Day 2798 of the 7 day Bible verse challenge.

Isaiah 17:13 NIV

They'll huff. They'll puff. They’ll blow really hard only to accomplish nothing whatsoever. They'll make a massive scene and yell obscenities and call names and issue threats and do whatever it takes to give off this illusion of power and control that terrifies us into bending to their will and caving to their pressure. But ultimately, all the scare tactics this world may resort to in order to deny God and encourage us to let go of our faith are only successful if we buy tickets to the show.

Sadly, that’s exactly what we’ve done. We've entertained the nonsense. We've believed that this world has some sort of power to which we cannot stand against. We've given more gravity to the noise and anger of this warped society than we have to that of our Father. We've been lied to and we've bought it hook, line, and sinker. And I honestly think that's why finding those who will stand up against the wickedness in this place are becoming so rare these days.

It is scary. It is uncomfortable to choose a path that runs against the grain of this fallen world. It is unsettling when you know full well that the odds are not currently in your favor. It's a tall order to rise up in the face of tremendous adversity and undertake the calling to stand against the sinful agendas that are vying for souls all around. The call to dawn the full armor of God and prepare for all that will entail moving forward does give us this sense of war and battle and strife and struggle and challenge and the very real possibility of pain and persecution.

But again, we have to understand where the true power is found in this story. Contrary to appearances, those who make the most noise or put on the most grandiose performance do not have the most authority. The ones who yell loudest are only doing so in the effort to cover the weaknesses and inadequacies that lie just below the surface. Those who rely on coercion and terror to retain their control are successful only when others give them the stage and buy into this falsehood they’re selling.

However, just under the surface, that noise is covering up a plethora of lies and deceit and fallacy and foolishness and an inability to actually stand against the Living God. So many in this world like to puff their chests and unleash these bellowing blows that resound with the echoing of authority and strength. But though they rise against Christ, they'll not find the ability to stand against Him. They may think they can debate His truth or contend for His throne or lead His children astray. But all they'll find in that pursuit is a righteous vengeance the likes of which this world cannot fathom.

So why do we buy into all the noise? Why do we fear mankind? Why do we continue to do whatever we can to appease the masses and avoid the fight that we know is coming? Why do we entertain these lies telling us that we can't stand against the darkness in this place? Is it because we honestly think we can't overcome the wicked? Is it because we're afraid of pain or persecution? Or is it simply because we've forgotten Who is standing beside us?

You see, I think so often we get caught up in paying way too much attention to those in front of us who are yelling and screaming and threatening to get mean with us should we fail to adhere to their will. I think we allow our gaze to be shifted onto those who have the audacity to speak against God and trample His Word and deny His authority and power. But doing so only causes us to fear man more than God. And in this battle of good vs evil that's coming, rather has already begun, that's not a good way to go nor a good mindset to accept.

We can’t afford to live in fear of anyone or anything on this earth. We can’t give any weight to the threats or noise that are really all the enemy has to fall back on. We cannot allow ourselves to live our lives here afraid of what may happen to us should we not be everything this world demands we be. This place wants quiet little puppets who move when and where they’re told to move and who can read the scripts they’re given loud and proud for the crowd to hear.

That’s not us. That’s not Christians. That’s not disciples of the one true King. Fear of man is truly the most common and powerful snare the devil has. Fear of being hated or excluded, judged or denied, beaten or belittled causes us to walk a little lighter and speak more softly. That’s not how we share this message of the Gospel. We don’t testify to the power of Christ by living afraid of sharing His message. We don’t tell the world how deeply we trust in His salvation by carrying ourselves like scared children who are terrified of the bullies we’re surrounded by.

You’ll not hear anyone down here admit this because it goes against the stage from which they’re performing, but there’s nobody here who has the power to stand against God. Sure, they can be loud. They can be really rude and bold and brash and brazen. They can, in all reality, resort to beating and harming those they disagree with or simply don’t like. But they can’t do anything before God other than bow. Philippians 2:10-11 makes that clear, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

So we need to ask ourselves who we’re serving, and if we do in fact have hearts set on serving Christ, then why this fear of man? Why this continual willingness to avoid confrontation on behalf of our faith? Why do we give so much gravity to a creation that is ‘driven before the wind like chaff on the hills’? If we truly believe that every knee will bow before Christ, then how can we bring ourselves to bow down before those who are soon coming under His righteous judgement?

This world has to put on this show to keep up appearances. The devil knows that he’s got nothing but smoke and mirrors on which he can rely to sucker fools into choosing his freedom over God’s forgiveness. You and I are here to point that out. We’re here to share the truth that cuts through lies and sets people free from that forlorn road headed toward destruction. But we can’t, or rather won’t, do so if we continue to fear the fallen who only seem powerful because they’re really loud and really angry.

Make no mistake, that noise will be silenced when all these evildoers are standing before God. Every threat will be rendered hollow when their just punishment is given. We know how this ends, and though it may appear radically different at the moment, nothing has changed in God’s promises. Evil will be dealt with, and those who place their faith in His Son will be saved from what all this wickedness well deserves. So who cares what happens in the meantime? Who cares if people hate us for standing against their evil lies? Who cares if a fallen society takes these lives for refusing to bow down to them?

The worst this world can actually do amounts to only hastening our witnessing of Heaven. It’s all about perspective. This world can only go so far down this road of depravity as killing those who refuse to play their wicked games. We see our earthly death as the glorious chance to leave behind our worldly woes and finally embrace the loving arms that we know are waiting just beyond our last breath. So basically what I’m saying is bring it! Hate us Christians who you think are fools. Hate the message I we share in the Gospel. Hate the truth we speak. Hate the fact that we stand against the wickedness.

Because through it all, it’s not about me or you, it’s about the One we’re living for. They don’t hate us, they hate God, and if you’ve read the Bible any at all, you know that’s not going to end well! This place will go on spewing hatred and offering us threats and maybe eventually even act upon them. But in the end, all those who act all tough now as they stand amongst the sinful horde and are glorified for taking part in the downfall will find themselves running in fear unable to outrun the rider on the white horse.

No one can stand before God, and if the wicked cannot stand before Him, then we’ll not bow before them. Few will appreciate our willingness to stand up against the vengeful in this world. But that’s okay. They killed all those who’ve gone before us, so that puts us in good company. Don’t throw away this chance you have to stand for something good and decent and right. Many are standing for everything that’s wrong and wicked. But they’ll not stand there for long!

#LeaveNoSoulUntold