STAND COURAGEOUSLY ON YOUR FAITH

 STAND COURAGEOUSLY ON YOUR FAITH

 In a society characterized by compromise for the sake of political correctness, it sometimes feels easy to press the mute button whenever matters of faith take center stage in conversations among family and friends.  Often, we are tempted to ‘go along to get along’ – or to sheepishly opt for apathy and abject silence because we hold less acceptable, minority views.

 At such moments, perhaps we should ask ourselves a question that has become a fixture in religious pop-culture.  That is, ‘What Would JESUS Do?’

 Even a cursory examination of The Holy Writ reveals that Christ was never complacent in His public stance against the moral decadence of His day.  For instance, He radically overturned the tables of currency exchangers who greedily defiled the Temple of God.  Also, He was never reluctant in citing the hypocrisy of contemporary religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees, whom Christ publicly labeled as “hypocrites…child[ren] of hell…blind guides…[and]…fools.” (Matthew 23:15-17)  These men specialized in pompous displays of religiosity, but sadly ignored the need for a covenant relationship with God.

 My sisters and brothers, we must strive to deploy consistent courage in the face of spiritual opposition.  May I present a natural yet practical portrait of courage?

 One winter morning as Ray Blankenship was preparing breakfast, he gazed out the window and saw a small girl being swept away in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his home in Andover, Ohio.  Ray knew that in a short distance the ditch would pass underneath the road and empty into a deep and dangerous culvert.  He dashed out the door and raced alongside the ditch, trying to get ahead of the terrified child.  Then Ray hurled himself into the deep, churning water.  When he surfaced, he was able to grab the child’s arm.  They tumbled, end-over-end.  Within about three feet of total disaster, Ray’s free hand felt something – possibly a rock protruding from one side of the ditch.  He clung desperately to that rock, but the tremendous force of the water threatened to tear him and the child away.  ‘If I can just hang on until help comes,’ Ray thought frantically.  But he did much better than that.  By the time fire department rescuers arrived, Ray had heroically pulled the girl to safety.  Both were treated for exposure and shock.  On April 12, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal.  The award was especially fitting, because this selfless person was at even greater risk to himself than most people knew.  For Ray Blankenship had never learned how to swim. 

 How might we define courage?  In short, courage is doing what you are afraid to do.  Indeed, there can be no courage unless you are genuinely striving to overcome fear.  And what is fear?  It is merely an acronym for ‘False Evidence Appearing Real.’  The Word declares that our chief adversary comes to us AS a roaring lion.  The implication is that Satan is not nearly as powerful as he (or we) conceive.  Truth is, you serve The Almighty God, the One who promised to “be with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)  He is the One “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)  Never lose sight on the fact that  Jehovah-Shammah is there.  He is your “present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)  So never fear.  Read His Word; believe it; memorize it; internalize it; practice it; declare it; and depend on it!  Always stand courageously on your sure foundation of faith.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!