Here is where the story begins to get really interesting...an angel of the Lord appears to Cornelius telling him to find and bring back a man named Simon who was called Peter (this is the apostle Peter!). Immediately, Cornelius obeys God calling two of his servants and even one of his own soldiers to go get Peter.
The next day guess who is going to the roof to pray? Peter is of course! He goes up around noontime and falls into a trance where Peter experiences the presence of God. He is not asleep or dreaming...It is something happening to him while he is wide awake and hungry to boot! In this trance, Peter sees a vision of large sheet being let down upon the earth by four corners. Just stop to think about this picture!!! This must be utterly astounding. (Back then, there was no globe of the earth, no Google map, or drawings of planets...Peter must be in shock and awe...) A noteworthy observation is that the four corners gives us a picture that this encompasses the whole earth from the North, South, East, and West. Then as if this vision was not amazing enough...imagine a voice from heaven saying, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
Well, apparently the voice of God does resonate with Peter at this moment (even though he is hungry and wants something to eat) because he replies by saying, "Surely not, Lord!" I think I myself would have went straight ahead for the food! However, Peter is probably weary of eating because there are "unclean" animals. I put "unclean" in quotes because I want to point out that in the Old Testament (and Jewish laws) there were animals that God had named unclean. Thus, the Jewish people were told to avoid "unclean" animals like pigs, camels, various birds, and other creatures. So Peter did not want to disobey God.
This is where the key lesson point comes in...Are you ready? God says, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." What does this mean?!? I believe that God is pointing out something to Peter and also to us today. Is a pig an unclean animal anymore than a dog? or a horse? or a cow? (Here are some interesting and fun pig facts: 1) In terms of cleanliness, pigs are very particular from other animals. They are the only farm animals that make a separate sleeping den (which they keep spotless) 2)They actually use a latrine (bathroom) area. 3) Pigs are highly intelligent. Like dogs, they can be easily housebroken, taught to fetch and come to heel. Pigs can learn to dance, race, pull carts and sniff out landmines.) I don't think a pig is necessarily and "unclean" animal. They are in fact "cleaner" than many other animals. Probably, a lot cleaner in fact than my aunt's dog Tarzan.
I think where the most meaningful lesson can be learned is that God has the final say. If God says an animal is unclean than it is unclean. If God says an animal is clean than it is clean. And if God says your sins are washed away...Then, your sins are WASHED AWAY! In the beginning, when God first created plants, animals, and all living things. He called everything he made was gooooood. So, if you take one lesson away today, remember what God calls good is good (and conversely what God calls evil is evil!)
Going back to finish the story the vision, Peter is of course bewildered and confused to the meaning of the vision. However, there is a reason why this vision was told within the context of Cornelius the Centurion...the two servants and one soldier arrive! Peter greets them and the Holy Spirit tells him to welcome these men and go with them back to Caesarea. These guests are not Jewish like Peter, thus they are Gentiles or "unclean". Yet, the Holy Spirit tells Peter to welcome them to his place and not only that but to go dine with them in Caeserea (this was against the Jewish laws of cleanliness). The story reminds us that God is the ultimate authority to what is good, what is clean, and what is best for us. Hope you enjoyed this post.
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