Denying Him

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.’” Luke 22:34
This passage is one that has bothered me, not because I don’t understand what it means, but because of its implications. Peter, the rock among the disciples; Peter, who walked on water; Peter, who was the first to declare openly that he believed Jesus was the Christ – this Peter also denied that he ever knew the Lord. What is to stop me doing the same thing?
The difference between Peter then and us now, is that at the time he denied the Lord, he didn’t have the Holy Spirit indwelling him. That came later. We do. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will give us the supernatural faith and the strength we need to endure persecution or even martyrdom, if that time should come (1 Pet. 4:14).
This quote from a biography on Corrie Ten Boom:
“When he was tucking her into bed that night, Corrie asked: ‘Papa, what is it like to die?’
Papa Ten Boom did not look away from her, but held his gaze into her eyes. ‘When we go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?’
Corrie considered this well before answering. ‘Just before we get on the train.’
Still holding his steady gaze, he said to her: ‘When the time comes, your Heavenly Father will give you all the strength you need.’”