"Stand Firm!"

Victory Can Be Yours!

Article #75 – “Stand Firm!”

               The past three articles have been dealing with two terrible decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court that cast aside what God has ordained from the beginning of mankind.  While this is a sad commentary to Christians, it should not be a surprise to us.  It is part of an ongoing struggle between the forces of good and evil.  We should not be surprised when things get tough as we take a stand for the principles of God.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Eph. 6:12, 13)

               We Christians are to stand firm, as stated in the passage above.  We are to obey governmental authority to the point where it violates the principles of God.  We, those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ, must be able to recognize the difference.  We are responsible to find what those principles are so that we can “stand firm” in them.  When the Israelites fled from the captivity of the Egyptians, people had no standards by which to measure right from wrong.  So, God gave them the Ten Commandments to live by.  Those Ten Commandments that God gave to the Israelites through Moses on tablets of stone were divided into two parts.  The first four commandments were to inform man how they should conduct themselves toward their creator, the last six commandments were to inform man how to live with one another.  Now we have the complete word of God, which includes those original commandments, to guide our behavior toward God and each other.  It is our responsibility to learn from God’s word, the Bible, how He intends for us to behave.   Only then can we formulate a Biblical worldview.

              

               It has not been very long ago we were hearing in the news about the County Clerk in Kentucky refusing to issue marriage licenses for the purpose of same-sex marriage.  She was taking a bold position as she took a “stand firm” approach against the “world forces” as she stated her position that, God’s law was higher than man’s law and she could not issue marriage licenses on the grounds that it violates her Christian principles.  She was boldly following the standards that God has given us all in spite of the U.S. Supreme Court trying to re-define what God has ordain regarding marriage and family.  What was going on was persecution as she took a stand for God and His principles.  This could have become very ugly for her and for others that take the same position on this issue.  It could take the form of job loss, financial loss, and possibly even incarceration. 

The thought of persecution should not come as a shock to Christians.  Christians have been persecuted from the beginning of the church following when Jesus was crucified.  The Bible states; “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12)  Therefore, if we are living godly in Christ Jesus, we can be assure that we will face persecution at some time and in some form.  Stand firm!

               You, too, can have victory in Jesus!  More to follow.

Lowell Parrish