Courage in Culture: Remember Other Success Stories

by David Chadwick We are wrapping up a two week look at how to have courage in culture. I have sought to impart principles to you that will help you stand when facing difficult situations. Remember to decide beforehand where your allegiance lies and remain submitted to Christ and Christ alone. Know God’s truth and be able to express it in love. Expect to have resistance and when you do, train yourself to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Remind yourself regularly that there is no age limit to following Jesus, and the mission he has called you to is between your two feet. Remember that you serve a heavenly Boss who is able to promote you as you humble yourself before him and his truth. Finally, remember other success stories. Daniel was not the only success story in the Bible of someone standing for God’s truth. Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were Daniel’s three young friends who were cast into the Babylonian captivity with him. They, too, were probably teenagers. Yet they stood for godliness, holiness, purity, and truth. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for their beliefs. But a fourth person was with them in the fire – somewhat of a theophanic, preincarnate appearance of Jesus himself before he came to Bethlehem as a baby. Jesus rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fire and they came out without even smelling like smoke. Their faith was noticed by the king. They, too, were exalted because of their faithfulness. These stories of victory go beyond Daniel and even Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Think of Nehemiah before Artaxerxes, the cupbearer of the king, who was given permission by the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the destroyed walls. Or Esther who became the queen over the entire Medo-Persian Empire, which had overthrown Babylon. Her courage saved the Jewish nation from Haman’s evil genocide attempt. All got involved in politics and spoke truth to power. They all lived godly lives and were honored accordingly! If God can use all of these people in Scripture to stand courageously in the midst of godlessness, he can certainly use you. Choose today and for the rest of your life to be courageous in culture! And watch God use you, for his glory, forever and ever. Amen!