STAND in the Place where You Live
When I was in high school, several friends and I heard testimony of some young people who formed a Christian “club” (for lack of a better word) in their public high school called STAND; an acronym for Students Taking A New Direction. It was motivating and impactful to see students our age living for Christ in the middle of the world.
We went home and wanted to do the same. We gained the approval of our Principal that fall and founded a new chapter of STAND in our own public high school.
It wouldn’t be until college that I would truly follow Jesus Christ as LORD of my life. I am certain I was not mature in my faith at 17 nor was I consistently living as I ought, but it was a day of small beginnings in my life. That little Christian “club” was one of my first small steps of faith to STAND.
…but you, stand fast through faith…Romans 11:2
…be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like [Paul], be strong…1 Corinthians 16:13
…stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…Galatians 5:1
…put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of Devil…Ephesians 6:11
…so then brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us…1 Peter 5:12
Standing is a simple action that every believer can do, but it takes a measure of courage.
I have been personally praying to grow in courage through Christ in measures which will match and surpass the challenges of our day. It’s easy to run and hide. Instincts tell us to duck and cover when fiery flames come blazing at us. Sizing up the looming giant, we may think there is no way we can take him, so we just keep quiet. Someone else will do it.
But, “I stand alone on the word of God…The B I B L E” is what it means to stand fast. It means holding fast to the truth of God’s word and letting God shield you with his armor when the fiery arrows come. It means telling the giant that he defies the living God and that he actually doesn’t stand a chance against our God who sits enthroned above the earth.
It means stating simple truths of Scripture and holding to them because God says they are true:
- God created them male and female. And it was very good.
- Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through him.
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
- The wages of sin is death [in hell]. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.
If we concede the truth of God’s word in order to please man, what gospel do we have to offer others for salvation from sin?
What deliverance is there from eternal death and hell if not what is found in scripture?If we will not stand alone on the Word of God, we risk sharing a false or other gospel which is really the same as sharing no gospel at all. People need a Savior strong enough to deliver them from sin. Jesus is the One! Someone, somewhere will still hear this message. May God give us courage and en-courage-ment to be ones who will STAND and keep proclaiming the truth!
In Love,
Erika
