WILL YOU STAND WITH JESUS WHEN OTHERS WALK AWAY?
Yesterday morning, Saturday, October 10, 2026, I opened my Bible with a simple prayer.
Lord, is there something in Your Word that You especially want Your people to hear in these days? If You have a message You want me to share, I’m listening. My heart is open.
I wasn’t looking for something sensational. I wasn’t searching for a new revelation. I simply wanted the Holy Spirit to illuminate something in God’s written Word that I needed to understand—and perhaps share with others.
I found myself reading Matthew chapter 26.
What a chapter!
The religious leaders are plotting to kill Jesus. A woman anoints Him with precious oil. Judas agrees to betray Him. The disciples prepare the Passover. Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. He foretells Peter’s denial.
Then comes Gethsemane.
The Son of God falls on His face in prayer. Three times He submits Himself to the Father’s will. The weight of what lies ahead is almost beyond human comprehension.
And as I read, I could hardly breathe.
Here was the sinless Son of God approaching the greatest sacrifice in human history.
Then I reached verse 56.
And something arrested my attention.
“Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” — Matthew 26:56 (NKJV)
Seven words.
But yesterday, those seven words seemed to leap off the page.
I had read them many times before. I knew the account. I understood what happened.
But this time I saw something that struck me personally.
The men who had walked closest to Jesus were the very men who ran when following Him became dangerous.
Think about that.
For approximately three years, these disciples had lived alongside the Son of God.
They heard Him teach.
They watched Him heal the sick.
They saw blind eyes opened. They witnessed demons cast out. They watched Him command the wind and the waves.
They had seen the impossible become possible.
They had eaten with Him. Traveled with Him. Prayed with Him.
They had every reason to believe He was exactly who He claimed to be.
And yet, when the soldiers arrived, when swords appeared, when the danger became personal—
They ran.
Not just Peter.
Not just Judas, who had already betrayed Him.
The remaining disciples scattered.
The Scriptures tell us that all forsook Him and fled.
Peter would later follow at a distance. John would eventually stand near the cross. But at the moment of arrest, fear overwhelmed their courage.
Jesus was abandoned by those closest to Him.
The One who had never sinned.
The One who had never deceived anyone.
The One who had done nothing but obey His Father and bring truth, healing, and life to a broken world.
And suddenly, I found myself asking a question.
Not about Peter.
Not about the other disciples.
About us.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
If men who walked with Jesus personally could abandon Him when the pressure came, what makes us think we are incapable of doing the same?
Friends, this is not a comfortable question.
But I believe it is a necessary one.
We are living in serious times.
The world is changing rapidly. Biblical truth is increasingly challenged. What God calls righteousness is often ridiculed, while what He calls sin is celebrated.
And too many Christians are spiritually asleep.
Some have become so comfortable with the world that they hardly recognize its influence anymore.
Others have mistaken church attendance for discipleship.
They believe in Jesus, but have never seriously considered what it might cost to follow Him.
They want His blessings.
They want His protection.
They want His promises.
But do they want His Lordship?
Jesus never promised that following Him would always be comfortable.
In fact, He warned us of the opposite.
And the question before us is not whether we can remain faithful when everything is easy.
The question is whether we will remain faithful when obedience becomes costly.
THE DANGER OF HOLDING ON TO COMFORT
When my son Eric was about eighteen months old, he had a little blue blanket.
He loved that blanket.
He carried it everywhere. He held it tightly. It gave him a sense of comfort and security.
There were times when we had to gently take that blanket from his hands so he could use both hands to steady himself as he learned to walk.
He didn’t particularly appreciate that.
He wanted his blanket.
But he also needed to grow.
I think about that little blue blanket when I look at the Church today.
How many of us are holding tightly to our own spiritual security blankets?
Our routines.
Our conveniences.
Our possessions.
Our reputations.
Our desire to be accepted.
Especially in Western nations, many of us have enjoyed freedoms and comforts that Christians throughout history could scarcely imagine.
Electricity. Running water. Food in abundance. Churches on nearly every corner. Bibles in every imaginable format.
And yet, with all these blessings, have we become spiritually stronger?
Or simply more comfortable?
Comfort is not a sin. But comfort can become an idol when we refuse to surrender it to God.
And a Christian who will obey Jesus only when obedience is convenient is not prepared for difficult days.
JESUS TOLD US HOW TO PREPARE
Here is what struck me next.
Before the disciples fled, Jesus had already given them the answer.
In Matthew 26:41, He said:
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (NKJV)
Notice those first three words.
WATCH AND PRAY.
Jesus knew what was coming.
He knew the pressure His disciples would face.
He knew their intentions were sincere.
Peter had boldly declared that he would never deny Him. And I believe Peter meant every word.
But sincerity was not enough.
Confidence was not enough.
Human determination was not enough.
When the pressure arrived, their strength failed.
Jesus had warned them.
Watch.
Pray.
Don’t trust your flesh.
Don’t assume that yesterday’s faithfulness guarantees tomorrow’s victory.
Stay spiritually awake.
Stay close to God.
Friends, I believe that warning is every bit as important for us today.
WE HAVE SOMETHING THE DISCIPLES DID NOT YET HAVE
There is another truth we must understand.
At the time of Jesus’ arrest, the disciples had not yet experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would come at Pentecost.
That happened in Acts chapter 2.
And what a difference it made!
Consider Peter.
The man who denied Jesus before a servant girl later stood publicly before thousands and boldly proclaimed that Jesus Christ was Lord.
What changed?
Peter had encountered the risen Christ.
And he had been filled with the Holy Spirit.
The frightened fisherman became a courageous witness.
Not because he suddenly developed an extraordinary personality.
Not because he mastered some secret formula for self-discipline.
Because the power of God was working in him.
I’m presently writing a book about the Person of the Holy Spirit, and the more I study Scripture, the more convinced I become of this truth:
We cannot live the Christian life successfully in our own strength.
We were never intended to.
Jesus did not merely come to forgive our sins and leave us struggling alone.
He came to reconcile us to the Father and give us new life.
And through the Holy Spirit, God empowers His people to live in obedience, overcome temptation, and become faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8 says:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me…” (NKJV)
Power.
Not merely religious knowledge.
Not merely good intentions.
Not merely enthusiasm.
Power to obey.
Power to endure.
Power to stand when standing is difficult.
Power to remain faithful when others turn away.
FRIEND, THE TIME TO DECIDE IS NOW
I want to speak plainly.
If you are reading this message, please consider stopping for a moment.
Put aside the distractions.
Turn your attention toward Almighty God.
And ask Him a serious question.
Lord, is there anything in my life that I am holding more tightly than I am holding on to You?
Then listen.
If the Holy Spirit brings something to your attention, don’t argue.
Don’t negotiate.
Don’t postpone obedience.
Repent where repentance is needed.
Forgive where forgiveness is required.
Turn away from known sin.
Make right what you can make right.
And ask the Lord to give you the strength to do what is pleasing in His sight.
Not next month.
Not when circumstances improve.
Today.
None of us can make ourselves righteous before God through human effort.
That is why Jesus came.
He paid the price for our sins. He died in our place. He rose again.
Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ.
But genuine faith is not meant to remain passive.
It produces a changed life.
Jesus said:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15 (NKJV)
That’s not complicated.
But it is serious.
We cannot claim to love Jesus while deliberately refusing to obey Him.
More than 100 people go to BOOK YOUR HEAVEN FLIGHT page each month and make Jesus Lord and Savior. To watch my video and learn more about Jesus and eternal life with God in Heaven go here: https://daleblack.org/book-your-heaven-flight/
DO YOU WANT MORE OF GOD?
I know that many of you who read these messages already love the Lord.
You want to grow stronger in faith.
You want to recognize His voice through His Word.
You want to become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
You want your life to count for eternity.
Then let me encourage you with something I’ve learned over the years.
If you want more of God’s influence in your life, surrender more of your life to Him.
You cannot purchase more of God. You cannot earn His love.
But you can give Him greater access to your decisions, your priorities, your habits, your words, and your actions.
Stop reserving little compartments of your life for yourself.
Give Him everything.
James 4:8 tells us:
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (NKJV)
That’s a promise worth acting upon.
And if you have never truly surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, I urge you to do so now.
Confess your sins. Turn to Him in repentance and faith. Believe that He died for you and rose again.
Receive Him as your Savior and Lord.
Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Don’t put off the most important decision of your life.
WHEN THE MOMENT COMES…
I want to close by returning to that scene in Gethsemane.
Imagine the darkness.
The flickering torches.
The sound of approaching footsteps.
The glint of swords.
The sudden realization that everything was about to change.
Only hours earlier, the disciples had been sitting at the table with Jesus.
They had heard His words.
They had declared their loyalty.
They believed they were ready.
Then came the moment of testing.
And they ran.
Friends, we do not know exactly what tomorrow will bring.
But we do know that our faith will be tested.
There may come a day when telling the truth costs you a friendship.
When standing for righteousness costs you an opportunity.
When refusing to compromise costs you your reputation.
Perhaps even your freedom.
That is not the time to begin developing a relationship with God.
The time is now.
Today is the day to draw close.
Today is the day to pray.
Today is the day to be filled with the Holy Spirit and learn to walk in obedience.
And remember this: the disciples’ failure was not the end of their story.
Jesus rose from the dead.
He restored Peter.
He commissioned His followers.
And the Holy Spirit transformed frightened men into bold witnesses who helped carry the Gospel into the world.
That same Lord is alive today.
His mercy has not diminished.
His power has not weakened.
His Word has not changed.
So don’t be discouraged by your weaknesses.
Bring them to Jesus.
Don’t trust your own strength.
Trust His.
And don’t wait until the soldiers are standing in the garden to decide whether you will follow Him.
Make that decision now.
Because when the pressure comes, what matters most will not be how loudly you once declared your faith.
It will be whether you are still standing with Jesus.
Watch and pray.
Draw near to God.
Be filled with His Spirit.
And obey His Word.
Jesus is coming again.
Jesus is coming again. And He’s coming again soon!
OFF-GRID NEXT STEP: SAFE WINTER STORAGE
After renting a storage unit for some time, the decision has been made to vacate it, simplify, and prayerfully prepare for the coming days. Nearly half of our personal belongings—including family heirlooms and memorabilia—have already been sold in preparation for what’s ahead.
However, off-grid living requires certain essential supplies and equipment that must be protected from the weather. With winter approaching, a small storage shed is needed to safely house these necessities. We have located a good used wooden shed for approximately $1,450. which includes relocating it.
If the Lord puts it on your heart to help with this next step, any gift—large or small—would be deeply appreciated. We’re simply moving forward one practical step at a time as God provides. Thank you.
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