Courage under Fire

With many of our loved ones in the military facing the dangers of war, it seemed appropriate to write something about courage. We appreciate so much those of our number who willingly face injury and death to protect our way of life. It takes courage to do that . Our national history is full of men and women who have courageously faced enemies on every side and unselfishly laid down their lives for their comrades, countrymen and loved ones. They are heroes to us all. We always pray earnestly that war will be avoided, but know that if such proves necessary, courage will again accompany the brave into battle.

Courage is important to the Christian, too. It takes courage to be faithful. Perhaps you never thought of religion in those terms, but it’s true. Oh, we understand that it takes courage to go into a dangerous foreign land and preach the gospel. Of course it takes courage to continue to confess Jesus even when someone puts a gun in your face and dares you to. However, you may not have thought it takes much courage to live the Christian life you live. Well, it does! It takes courage to live your life faithfully, that is.

We give a ticker-tape parade to the battlefield hero and we are full of praise for brother Smith’s stand against false doctrine and sister Jones’ defense of the truth and those accolades are well deserved. I want you to think, though, of the courage it takes for you, the average, ordinary person, to live a faithful life. Maybe you are a soldier, a preacher, an elder in the church, or maybe you’re a homemaker, a teacher, or a truck driver; it really doesn’t matter. Suppose you are all alone one day and you come face to face with temptation. It doesn’t matter what the temptation is; we all face it in one form or another. This particular temptation, however, is particularly effective because it tempts you to do something that is sinful, but that no one else will know about. You can do it and no one will know. You can even do it and repent and no one will know, making it even more tempting. What do you do?

Let us let our imaginations take over for just a moment and move us into the spiritual realm. Who is that soldier standing to one side? Why, it’s you! And there [s your armor spread out all around you on the ground. What’s that sound? It sounds terrifying! That sound is the sound of your enemy, the dragon, that serpent of old, Satan himself, approaching. And he’s coming for you!

My description may be a little melodramatic, but this is exactly what is happening when you face temptation. The fight is on and you’ve got to put on your armor and fight or you are going to be devoured. Here is what I really want you to notice, though. Over to one side of the dragon you can see someone else fighting. That’s old brother Smith. You remember. He’s the one you thought so highly of for standing against false doctrine. You thought he was a REAL soldier of the cross. And there, on the other side of the dragon. It’s sister Jones, whom you admired for so ably defending the truth. The point is, they are fighting the good fight and so are you...if you’re fighting, that is. It takes no more courage for the preacher or the elder or anyone else in the congregation you admire and think of as more spiritual and spiritually able than you, to fight the good fight than it does for you. And when you fight off that temptation that no one else will ever know about, you have struck home a blow right in the heart of that old dragon.

Hear the words of the Lord: Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24. When you face those enemies (temptations or people) remember these words: Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Good friends, in these days of uncertainty, keep the faith, be of good cheer and be strong and courageous. If you do, you cannot lose because God loves you and so do I.