July 21, 2004
Reading
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The words of our text have rung through the ages like a clarion bell to
waken a sleeping church, a church that has been in danger of being submerged
beneath blasphemy, apathy and compromise. Thank God for the church leaders of
old who stood up and preached the truth as it is found in the Word of God,
often bringing upon themselves rejection, severe persecution, and oftentimes
death; men like John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin,
William Tyndale and many others who stood up against
the false teachings of the church of their day. The truth of the Word of God
meant more to them than their lives and many went to their death praising God
and praying that God would forgive their tormentors and executioners.
Today we live in a world that accepts as normal behavior homosexuality,
the murder of babies and the blasphemous use of our Savior’s name. We should
not be surprised at the world for these things, but we should be devastated when
some of our churches agree with them. Thank God there are some church leaders
who are not sitting back and letting these things happen without standing up
and calling God’s people back to the solid ground of the Word of God. There
should be more—many more. All who stand in our pulpits Sunday after Sunday,
those who teach our Sunday School classes and bible
classes, need to stand up for the doctrines of the faith without compromise.
But this call to arms should be adopted by every person who confesses that they
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and the infallibility of the scriptures. The
world is having a play day with the church because they know what is expected
of us, and we often do not deliver. We are seen as pushovers, people of God who
have weak hands.
Let us also consider how this applies to our personal life with God. How
often am I a pushover when the enemy attacks? Do I draw my sword when he
attacks or do I cower and take it? How often do I break a sweat while running
the race that is set before me? I am challenged when I consider these things
for I know how weak my hands are and how pathetic is my opposition to the
enemy. As those redeemed by the blood of Jesus we must learn to follow Samson’s
example, “Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember
me, I pray! Strengthen me I pray” Judges 16:28. The reason we fail is because
we do not call on the Lord for His strength. Our enemy is too great to think
that we have any chance of defeating him in our own strength.
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those
who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold,
your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and
save you’” Isa 35:3-4. Listen to Nehemiah, “O God,
strengthen my hands” Neh 6:9; hear the cry of David,
“Strengthen me according to Your word” Ps 119:28. Let
us together take heed to the exhortation of Nahum, “Man the fort! Watch the
road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily” Nah 2:1.
I call upon those who read these words to take to heart the rallying cry
sounded throughout the scriptures to “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave,
be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” 1 Cor
16:13-14. Then and only then will we know the joy and satisfaction of battles
fought well and victories won.
“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,and make straight paths for
your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” Heb
12:12-13.
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