Luke 22:55
“And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.”
Throughout my lifetime, I have watched many strong men who once stood firm for the old paths waver in their later years. These men were men who once preached on national platforms of conferences that promoted the old paths. Yet, I have watched them change throughout the years to the degree that you would never know that they once stood strongly for the old paths.
Years ago I preached for a good man whom God was using mightily to reach his city. I was sitting at the table with him and he relayed something to me that was very troubling at the time. He scheduled an appointment with a preacher who had greatly compromised to find out his secret to growth. He said that he wasn’t interested in following the man, but that he simply wanted to find out what caused him to grow and reach more people in his community. Today that man has left the old paths and wants nothing to do with them.
What is the common denominator that causes good people to change? The answer can be found in the verse above when it says, “Peter sat down among them.” Peter did not intend to change who he was. In fact, he was adamant just a few hours earlier that he was willing to die for the Saviour’s sake. Yet, just a few verses later he was denying the LORD, denying his faith and denying the church. It all started when he innocently sat down among the enemies.
Friend, as you read the story of Peter denying the LORD, I’m sure you have quietly said in your heart that you would never do that. Let me remind you that many people have said they would never do that, but the first mistake they make is sitting down with the enemy. When Peter sat down he never thought it would influence him that much, but it did. You may think you are strong enough to handle sitting with the enemy, but you are not.
If you are going to avoid compromising change then you must never sit with the enemy. Don’t sit with the enemy in their conferences. You may simply be going to watch what they are doing, but that is exactly what Peter did. Peter simply sat down among the enemy to see what was going to happen to Jesus. If you never go to the conferences of those who have compromised the faith, then you will never hear their advice that could influence you to change.
Moreover, don’t sit with the enemy as they criticize. Peter was sitting with the very crowd who criticized his LORD, and it affected him. You must be very careful about being around those who criticize people who firmly stand for the old paths. Why is it that those who firmly stand for the old paths are criticized and those who have watered down the faith are seen as good people? When you see people criticize those who strongly stand for the old paths, avoid them so that you don’t gain a disdain for the ways of the old paths.
Furthermore, don’t sit with the enemy who wants to destroy the old paths. Peter was sitting with a crowd who wanted Jesus killed. He had no business being in that crowd. Friend, don’t read the books or listen to the sermons of those who want the old paths destroyed. They may seem to be the popular crowd, but Jesus never promised that His ways would be popular. There are going to be times when you must stand alone, but if standing alone keeps you from changing that is good.
Anyone is capable of changing. Peter was one of the stronger disciples, but when he sat with the enemies he changed. If you don’t want to change, then let me encourage you to separate from those who will influence you to change. Sitting with the enemy has destroyed many people, and it will destroy you if you don’t stop sitting with them.