The Danger of Following at a Distance

Matthew 26:57,58

The focus of our attention today will be on “Peter.” What are we to do with this rugged fisherman who refuses to surrender to his own weaknesses? How are we to cast him in our mind? Is it possible to fail to admire the one in twelve with the most courage? Is it possible to call what he had “courage” when he swears ignorance when confronted? On the sea, he was the only one willing to get out of the boat at the Master’s beckoning. Eleven cowards watched from their soggy wooden perch as their comrade sank in the waves. They must have called him foolish, but you must give him some fiber of bravery that the others lacked.

Where do we put Peter? No one else appears to risk anything to follow Jesus in this dark hour. While everyone else was hiding behind the trees of ambiguity, Peter was slithering beneath the nearby rocks of curiosity. When he is caught and exposed, he fumbles the ball that the others were unwilling to carry. How do we mark our cursing angler? He who follows at a distance falls, and his courage goes “splat” when the spotlight of exposure is cast upon him. Do we give him an “E” for effort or an “F” for failure?

What could have possibly been going through the land-locked fisherman’s mind? Verse fifty-eight says that he was there to “see the end.” What good would that do? What possible contribution could Peter make? His resume contained one ill-timed ear slicing, a confession of Jesus’ messiahship and a “get-behind-me-Satan” rebuke. There certainly wasn’t much for him to do there that night except get into trouble, which he immediately proceeded to do.

Peter’s evening would have turned out a whole lot better if he had stayed home with a bag of popcorn and a warm fire. His presence in the shadows, with eyes like that of an owl, only made him too conspicuous. Perhaps, the key to understanding what went on with Peter can be most clearly seen in the simple word “distance.” He followed at a distance. This is not recommended!

Moses gave up the passing pleasure of sin to be counted with the people of God. Perhaps, those who are following at a distance are attempting to be counted with the people of God, but they are unwilling to let go of the passing pleasures of sin. Job was a man who “feared” God and turned away from evil. Those who follow God at a distance perhaps fear God, but they are struggling with the turning from evil.

We are never called or encouraged to follow Christ at a distance. If we follow at all, we should get up where the action is. We need to draw close to Him. What does that mean, and how is that done will be the subject of our time in the Word of God today. Is a distance-follower a true follower or a double loser … losing both the pleasures of sin and the greater pleasure of God’s presence?