One of my favorite characters in the scriptures was the apostle Peter. Everyone knows that Peter was the type of person who spoke without thinking, but was solid in his beliefs. This man had alot of ups and downs while walking with the Lord Jesus during His ministry. He is still the only man I know aside from Jesus to walk on water, if only for a few moments. Remember, Peter was the one to speak up and testify to who Jesus was "Son of the living God", and he was also very bold in his defense of His Lord. He was a rugged kind of person, and I think is relatable to many who come to trust Jesus as Lord, who have been known to be a little ruff around the edges. There is however, a certain situation in Peter's life that stands out like a light in the midst of the darkest night and it is found after the arrest of Jesus Christ. Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the crow of the rooster, which meant that Peter would act as if he never knew who Jesus was. I think this probably caught him off guard and hurt a little, but as we study the scripture we find that this happened just as Jesus had said. What a moment in the life of Peter, this man who knew who Jesus was and had even made that profession of faith to the deity of Christ. What strikes me from this story is found in the latter part of verse 54......
Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
(Luke 22:54)
Peter followed from a distance to see what would happen to Jesus. It is amazing that this man who had just earlier that night cut off the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus was now to scared to be seen associated with his master. Before we pass judgment on Peter I think we have to ask ourselves a question. What kind of distance are we putting between ourselves and Jesus Christ? Every time you move away from Jesus is more space between you and the Lord. When I choose things over Him, or people over Him, or just place anything above Him in importance, I am putting space between us. Do the people you are around every day know you belong to Christ, or do you act and talk like everyone else. Do you go to church just when it is convenient, or maybe you inconvenience yourself on holidays and special occasions because you feel you should. Do you live by the teachings of Christ, or do you believe that they are a little outdated and not really relative for the current times in which we live? If people around you don't know you are a Christian unless you tell them, if you only go to church when it is convenient or on holidays or special occasions, and you believe the scripture is too harsh and outdated than chances are you are following from a distance.