. The process was not easy by J. R. Miller. Jesus looked at him
and said, You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas,
which means rock. John 1.42 You are Simon. That was his name
then. You will be called Cephas. That
was what he would become. This did not mean that Simon's
character was changed instantly into the quality which the new
name indicated. It meant that this would be his
character by and by, when the work of grace in him was finished. The new name was a prophecy of
what he was to become, the man that Jesus would make of him.
Now he was only Simon, rash, impulsive, self-confident, vain,
and therefore weak and unstable. The process was not easy. Simon had many hard lessons to
learn. Self-confidence had to be changed
into humility. Impetuosity had to be disciplined
into quiet self-control. Presumption had to be awed and
softened into reverence. Heedlessness had to grow into
thoughtfulness. Rashness had to be subdued into
prudence. Weakness had to be tempered into
calm strength. Thus lesson after lesson did
Simon have to learn, each one leading to a deeper humility. It took a great deal of severe
discipline to make him into the strong, firm man of rock that
Jesus set out to produce in him. The price which he had to pay
to attain this nobleness of character and this vastness of holy influence
was not too great. But how about ourselves? It may
be quite as hard for some of us to be made into the image
of beauty and strength which the Master has set for us. It
may require that we shall pass through experiences of loss,
trial, temptation, and sorrow. Life's great lessons are very
long and cannot be learnt in a day, nor can they be learnt
easily, but at whatever cost they are worthwhile. It is worthwhile
for the gold to pass through the fire, to be made pure and
clean. It is worthwhile for the gem
to endure the hard processes necessary to prepare it for shining
in its dazzling splendor. It is worthwhile for a Christian
to submit to whatever severe discipline may be required, to
bring out in him the likeness of the Master, and to fit him
for noble living and serving.