SOUNDING OUT:
Courage
When I was in high school I read John
F. Kennedy's book Profiles in Courage. I can
remember reflecting on those records and being moved
by the bravery of those individuals. Today I can hardly
think about courage without reflecting upon God's exhortation
to Joshua. Repeatedly in chapter one God commands him
"to be strong and of a good courage." The
longer I live the more profoundly I appreciate courage.
After 9/11 many of us were brought to tears by the heroism
of the firefighters and policemen. Of course, our armed
forces, who continue to serve and protect now deserve
our greatest thanks.
Our need for courage is
no different from Joshua's. We may not be facing leading
millions of people into the Promised Land, but the challenges
we face on a day to day basis still require courage.
Our challenge is still "to obey God rather than
man." Doing what God asks does not happen without
opposition. Our adversary typically tries to thwart
God's efforts in our lives. He loves throwing up smoke
screens to confuse and deter us. He appeals to egos
and tempts us. He lures us with pleasures and confronts
us with pressures. They are all designed with one ultimate
purpose ? to keep us from obeying God.
Charles Swindoll said
of courage:
It has several names:
bravery, valor, fearlessness, audacity, chivalry, heroism,
and nerve ? and a few nicknames: guts, grit, gristle,
backbone, pluck, and spunk, but whatever the name. It's
more than a match for FEAR. The heights
of the Himalayas only encourage it. The depths of the
Caribbean merely excite it. The difficulty of a job
motivates it. The demands of competition inspire it.
Criticism challenges it? adventure arouse it? danger
incites it? threats quicken it.
It is just another word for inner strength, presence
of mind against odds, determination to hang in there,
to venture, persevere, and withstand hardship. It's
got keeping power. It's what makes the amputee reject
pity and continue to take life by the throat. It's what
prompts married couples having trouble never to say,
"Let's terminate." It's what enables the young
mother with preschoolers to press on in spite of a personal
energy crisis. It's what prods us to speak about Christ
when we'd rather stay silent.
We find tests of courage
everyday when we encounter people we know who need to
hear what the Word of God has to say. How do we react
to the tests? Only we decide whether we speak up or
wimp out.
We cannot afford to be
indifferent. Sure we have our need met? we know the
gospel of the grace of God? we have our families to
take care of. To often we relegate that responsibility
to the preacher or the TV evangelist, or anyone who
talks better than I do or knows more than I know. Don't
be afraid. God will work in you both to will and to
do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
God's exhortation to the
apostles in prison in Acts 5:20 was:
Their response was to
do as they were told. They obeyed God rather than men
(Acts 5:29). If you want to get out of any personal
prison you are in I know of no better advice: Go, stand
and speak all the words of this life. Don't be afraid
to share your faith. God has done great things for you
tell somebody about it.