Courage and Conviction

It requires deep loyalty to be committed to God in these ungodly times. We face a world devoid of Bible ethics and spiritual standards. Society is filled with compromise and shallow ideas that war against purity, truth and morality. It takes courage to speak out for the Lord and against the trends of popularity. We do not see many folks, even in the Lord's church, who are willing to manifest backbone in the quest for righteousness.

To be accepted by those about us has always been man's desire, and that creates a problem and a challenge for humanity. King Saul failed miserably to obey God, and spoke thus of his weakness, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice" (1 Sam 15:24). He was not the first, nor the last, to fall into that trap. Paul reminds us that it is a constant problem in Galatians 1:10. He said, "For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." James labels such foolish conduct as spiritual adultery (James 4:4). Truth is of pristine character and cannot be compromised. The conviction which truth demands is well worth the effort.

If preachers, parents, elders, and Bible class teachers had the steady courage of the prophets of the Old Testament, we could solve most of the problems in the church and in the world of our day. Rather than trying to be popular with their children, parents would always strive to be in accord with the scriptures in order to turn their offspring toward heaven and away from the carnal appetites and sensual pleasures that never satisfy. Preachers and elders would not be enamored by cathedrals, money and attendance, but rather be devoted to developing the depth and loyalty of members to the soul-searching edification that genuine Christianity produces for time and eternity.

It takes fortitude to teach the old Jerusalem gospel in an age that clamors for ease and comfort and our image among the elite. But the Lord's admonitions to Laodicea and Sardis ought to tell the abject vanity of such putrid emphasis (Rev. 3:1-15). In Genesis 11, we clearly learn what happens to those who strive to make a name for themselves.

Let us, "with purpose of heart, continue with the Lord" as we depart from iniquity. We surely owe to the people of our own day a courageous stand for holiness and godly demeanor: "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," (Titus 2:12 NKJV). If we could raise up a generation that put the Lord first absolutely, with approval always upon the more excellent way (Phil. 1:10), we could overcome Satan, self and sin and come over to walk with the Lord. May this be our consuming passion.