Whatever the cost
Taking a stand can come at a cost. Yet, not taking a stand always comes with a greater cost. I mentioned the three young men in Babylon in this morning’s sermon. They knew it could cost them their very lives, yet this was not too high a price to them for honoring and worshipping God. Jim Elliot and the other four young men who died in Ecuador thought it was not too high a price in order to take a stand among the Indians who killed them. They had a rifle with them but together determined that they would not use it against the Indians to protect their lives. Their reasoning was that they knew their eternity was secure in Christ, but the Indians had yet to hear of Christ Jesus.
There have been those in our country that have taken stands for the glory of God when they have seen God’s name and design desecrated and have lost positions, opportunities and jobs. Jack Phillips, the baker in Colorado, took a stand in a very gracious and loving way, yet has experienced over 10 years of legal battles in his stand for the Lord. Our stand for the Lord may not cost us in these major ways, but it could cost us friendships by those who will not converse. It can cost us time as we have longer and longer conversations with friends and family members so they can see and experience the love and graciousness on your Christian walk.
The cost of not taking a stand leaves families without godly direction and models. It leaves institutions in the clutches of the enemy (John 10:10). It will leave our churches weak and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy and swayed by public opinion rather than the Word of God. And it leaves us standing before the judgment seat of Christ having been built with hay, wood and stubble rather than gold, silver and precious jewels. And when all is done, everything in our legacy, both before Christ and before others will falter and fail.
Being Christian is to not simply speak the truth inside the four walls of the church, but to live them out daily in the sphere of your life. Jesus prayed for us in John 17, not wanting us to be taken out of the world but protected from the evil one. He was aware that following Him would alter our relationships with those around us, even the closest, our families. Yet His call to us is to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.” And as the song we sang this morning, wherever He leads at whatever the cost, even our life.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
