Obedience Or A Fad

20Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

22Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

23Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say that they went forward in a church service because all the other kids were doing so.  It was a popular thing to do.  They said they accepted Jesus and joined the church because of peer pressure. Now, at a later time they are questioning if they were ever really saved.  Some current test was shaking the validity of their foundation.  Most of the folks who did this were young people.  It is an easy thing to relegate these kinds of actions to teenagers.  Yet, following the fad is a driving force of the economy.  Fads are often motivated by ads.  Advertising plays on the human need to belong and to be considered as different or out front.  This same kind of behavior happens in church as well.  We may all dress alike, talk the same religious dialect and even say we believe the same things.  Yet, the truth about our commitment to Jesus is awaiting our personal test of obedience.  What will I do when all others walk away or their passion for Jesus cools?  In the passage above Peter demonstrates a chink in his armor.   After Jesus tells Peter what the future will require of him for the Kingdom of God Peter asks, What about John?  Jesus gives a shocking answer: "What is that to you?"  Being translated into our language of today he is saying, "it's none of your business!"  My obedience cannot be dependent upon others.  My obedience is between Jesus and me.  Nothing else matters at the end of the day.  

In much the same way, my convictions and lifestyle cannot be determined by the way others live their lives.  This Christian walk is a personal, one on one, eye ball to eye ball living relationship with the living Jesus.  There are two great tests in our journey.  They are the test of failure and the test of success.  Both have the potential to shipwreck us.  Make the decision today to obey in the seemingly small things so you will stand when the difficult decision is before you.