By: Steve Wilmot
Statistics regarding the durability of people who start their Christian lives sold out to Jesus reveal shocking results. Nine-in-ten crash and burn.
“They’re shot down morally, they’re shot down with discouragement, they’re shot down with liberal theology, they get obsessed with making money… but for one reason or another nine out of ten fall out.”
Do you think you’ll be the one out of ten who remains steadfast, faithful, and maturing in the Lord? You won’t if you coast. You must devise a plan and execute it with intentional action.
Peter nearly crashed and burned. The reasons why reveal quicksand we must avoid if we want to stay strong until the end.
Reason #1 — Peter thought he was better than the Eleven (Matthew 26.31-35).
At the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples they would all fall away from him that very night. But Peter replied, “They may, but not me! I never will!”
Be careful when pride, arrogance, smugness, and superiority manifests when you compare yourself with other believers.
Reason #2 — Peter didn’t pray (Matthew 26.36-45).
Jesus and his disciples went to Gethsemane to pray. Soon he went off alone to spend time with his Father, and he told Peter to watch and pray so he wouldn’t fall into temptation. He slept instead and see where it led — only hours later, he denied ever knowing Jesus.
Prayerlessness is a sure sign we don’t think we need God. We can do it on our own.
Be careful when you skip prayer. It removes a safeguard against giving in to temptation and takes you a step toward crashing and burning spiritually.
Reason #3 — Peter followed Jesus at a distance (Matthew 26.58).
When Jesus was arrested and taken to Caiaphas, Peter followed… but at a distance. He feared he would be associated with Jesus and get in trouble himself if he stayed close to Jesus.
The greater the distance we allow between Jesus and us, the more vulnerable we become to crashing and burning.
As Steve Farrar writes, “Make sure that you keep your heart close to Jesus every day. It’s a long way from here to where you’re going, and Satan’s in no hurry to get you.”
Reason #4 — Peter sat with unbelievers (Matthew 26.58).
When Peter arrived at the courtyard of Caiaphas, he “sat down with the guards to see the outcome” of the trial.
Who you surround yourself with matters. You’ve heard that since you were a child, but likely didn’t believe it until it was too late.
Be careful when your best friends aren’t serious followers of Jesus. You need brothers and sisters in Christ who will encourage and inspire you in your relationship with him. You will find them if you want to be that one-in-ten who stays strong to the end.
Reason #5 — Peter didn’t heed warnings (Mark 14.67-68).
Jesus warned Peter, he would disown him three times that night, but Peter ignored the alert. “Even if I have to die with you, I won’t disown you.”
Jesus warned him to watch and pray, but he fell asleep instead. After Peter denied Jesus the first time, Mark informs us a rooster crowed.
A gracious warning to Peter — “That’s the first of three rooster crows, Peter. You can still choose a different course when they ask you the next time if you’re with me.”
Peter ignored all three warnings. Be careful when God gives you a warning, and you close your eyes to it.
But thank God this wasn’t the end of Peter’s story. He disowned Jesus. He got knocked down. BUT Peter got back up. When he heard the rooster crow after he disowned his Master the third time, he didn’t throw in the towel like Judas did after he betrayed Jesus.
No. Peter got back up, renewed his loyalty to Jesus, and picked up where he left off in his spiritual journey. Wiser. More determined. Watchful to avoid those five mistakes he’d made which led him to crash and burn.
Peter’s failure wasn’t permanent. Yours isn’t either. If you see yourself copying any of the five reasons Peter fell, you can correct them. Stop thinking you’re better than others.
Pray regularly. Do whatever it takes to stay close to Jesus. Hang out with other believers who are strong in their faith and invite others to join you. Heed every warning God sends you that danger is lurking ahead.
Jesus never gave up on Peter even after such a horrific display of cowardice and disloyalty. In fact, in the same breath he told Peter he would deny him, Jesus said, “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22.32).
Know what? Jesus prays for you, too. He prays that even if your faith temporarily fails, it won’t be permanent. And when — not if — you turn back, you’ll have a story to tell that will strengthen other Jesus-followers.
In the Christian life, it’s not how you start that matters. It’s how you finish. Finish strong.
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Steve Wilmot is a former Edgerton, Ohio area pastor who now seeks “to still bear fruit in old age” through writing. He is the author of seven books designed to assist believers to make steady progress on their spiritual journey.