Standing Firm!

             Integrity is a quality that is sorely lacking in today’s world.  For the Christian, it involves much more than doing what the world says is right because worldly “right” is often very different from God’s truth.  God’s Word is truth, and it is the standard that we must follow.  It does not change with the times.  It is a moral absolute. 

            As an attorney, I am required to do continuing legal education every year, part of which includes training in ethics.  Ethics are defined as moral principles that govern a person’s behavior.  My problem has always been that what is defined as legal ethics is often contrary to God’s ethics, so when I sit in those classes, my time is spent praying that I never have to deal with those situations. 

            Avoidance is the easy way out, but unfortunately, the times that we live in offer little opportunity to avoid the conflict between God’s truth and the world’s version of truth.  If we stand firm on God’s ways, then we will undoubtedly be faced with challenges that will affect our social standing, our livelihood, and perhaps even our safety.  Christians are often called bigots, homophobes, racists, narrow-minded, and hateful.  Despite those attacks, we must look to God’s Word for our guidance and stand firm on His absolute truth.

            Take comfort from the fact that we aren’t the first to face these difficult situations and I doubt we will be the last.  Consider Daniel who was thrown into the lion’s den because he refused to bow to the king but rather continued to pray to God “just as he had always done” (Daniel 6: 10b).  God delivered him from the lions.

            Unfortunately, the disciples didn’t get off quite that easy.  Several times they were arrested and told not to continue preaching.  When they refused, they were beaten.  Yet, they stood firm on their convictions, saying “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5: 29b). 

            I think the strongest show of faith in the Scripture is found in Daniel 3.  Daniel’s buddies, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow down and worship the gold image of King Nebuchadnezzar.  The furious king threatened to throw them into the fiery furnace if they continued to refuse to bow down.  Their response was to stand firm, saying that God was more than able to deliver them from the furnace, but then they added a statement that should resound with Christians everywhere.

  “But even if he does not, we want you to know O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3: 18 NIV84).

That is faith!  For them, just knowing that God was in control and had a sovereign purpose was sufficient.  Persecuted Christians all over the world are still exhibiting that same kind of faith today.  God doesn’t always deliver us from those situations that test our faith, but He does always ask us to trust that He is in control. 

To face the challenges that this world brings, we must stand fast, be bold, and not be ashamed to speak the truth in love.  God still reigns, and His truth is absolute.

Romans 1: 16

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