On the Front

Several years ago, I wrote the following story. It’s a fictional account of the Good Fight that all Christians are fighting. It was originally written to call attention to the fact that all of us are in a fight. It’s the story of one old soldier, doing his very best to remain faithful to his King, fight the Good Fight and help as many of his fellow soldiers as possible. This is the story:

The old soldier groaned as he lowered himself to the ground and leaned back against the rock. It had been a hard campaign. There had been victories as well as defeats for his company. Some of his men were becoming stronger and better soldiers with each battle. Others were beginning to lose heart. Sadly, the old soldier realized that unless he was able to help these regain their spirits, they would likely be the first ones lost in the next battle.

Suddenly, there was a shout, and the King rode up on His beautiful white horse. All the men stood and cheered their King. Even the old soldier joined in the exultation. As the cheering died down, the King spoke words of encouragement that were soon drowned out by renewed cheering.

Afterward, the King walked over to the old soldier and bade him make himself comfortable. Together King and King’s man sat more like brothers than Liege and minion.

“How goes the struggle?” asked the King, although He knew full well the strategic situation.

“The men are tired, my Prince,” replied the old soldier. “Some of them want to rest. Others, I think would as soon flee. Still others are eager to advance the cause of their Lord. Your presence here today has given them all new life. Even I feel a surge of fealty where I had thought none was lacking.”

The King looked at His servant with eyes at once loving and sad. “Would that I could convince them that I am always with them,” He said sadly. “I never leave them. Not one falls without my tears. If they would see, the power they feel today will be at their side in tomorrow’s battle and every battle until the end.”

As he listened to his King’s words, a single tear made its way down the dirty face of the old warrior. “Forgive me, Master,” he said softly, his voice quivering with emotion.

His own eyes growing moist, the King smiled and laid a hand on the shoulder of His faithful servant and replied, “Done! And never forget that I am with you and will never forsake you, and victory is ours!”

It is my strongest prayer that this story help you find the strength and courage to continue fighting the Good Fight. All the problems that assail us are flaming arrows of our enemy and they threaten to destroy us, but we have One on our side Who cannot be overcome. He is fighting alongside you and for you and you cannot be overcome with Him on your side. Do not give up, keep the faith, fight the Good Fight and enter into the joy of your Master. He loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates

Who Is There to Harm You?

Last week we discussed the encouragement we can find in passages like Jeremiah 20:9-11; how encouraging it is to know that enthusiasm for the truth can help us overcome the negative side of criticism; the encouragement that comes from knowing that our God is a Dread Champion for us against our enemies. I’d like to continue that subject in this week’s message.

Wouldn’t it be great if every conflict that might arise between people would be resolved by both parties sitting down to a logical exchange of ideas with both parties being willing to admit defeat when and if the facts proved their position to be wrong? Would it not have been nice for those men in the government of King Darius who were jealous of the prophet Daniel to have challenged him to some kind of discussion to see if, in fact, he was deserving of so much positive attention from the king? Yes, it would have been nice, but they didn’t do that, did they? They tried to find some dirt on Daniel and when they couldn’t find any, they initiated a plot to use his strength (faith) against him. God took care of Daniel, but sometimes the care that God gives His faithful comes after death. Sometimes good people suffer and even die because bad people are treacherous.

Check out 1 Peter 3:13-17. The first question is key: “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?” What a question! There really is no one who can harm the faithful Christian. See Romans 8:31-37. He doesn’t say you will nor or cannot suffer. If you are faithful, you will suffer, believe me. If you suffer for righteousness’ sake (for doing the right thing), you are blessed. You don’t have to be afraid of anyone’s intimidation; you don’t have to be troubled by anything, concerning your position before God. Of course, it’s troubling if the source of your suffering for the sake of righteousness is from a fellow Christian, but in this situation, you stand justified before God.

We usually apply verse fifteen to the need to study the Bible well enough so that if our friends or acquaintances ask us a Bible question, we can answer with a Bible answer. Well, that’s a good thing to be ready for, but Peter is really telling us here that in situations where there is conflict (whether it be conflict in the church, or with those outside the body of Christ), we had better be prepared. If we’re going to suffer for the sake of righteousness, we must make sure that our cause is righteous; make sure that we are proving zealous for what is good. That’s what it means to always be ready to make a defense. This means constant self-examination on our part to see if we really have that ‘ole log out of our eyes (Matthew 7:1-5). We must keep a good conscience. That doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes much effort, much prayer, and much penitent action on our part. If we will work hard at making sure we line up correctly with the will of God as revealed in Scripture, we don’t have to worry and those who slander us (i.e., call us “troublemakers,” “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” etc.) will be put to shame.

There is no question that it is much better to suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong. Someone might disagree and say that suffering is suffering. Well, the person who says that is ignorant of the blessings associated with this passage. If you suffer for doing right, even if your suffering is fatal, you are blessed (see Revelation 2:10). If you suffer for doing what is wrong (and that could be fatal, too), that suffering leads to eternal suffering.

What happens when we suffer for doing right, are slandered, and our good behavior is reviled, and those who slander us and do the reviling are not put to shame? You know it happens that way sometimes. People in the right, faithful Christians who stand up for what is right, are “shot down,” sometimes by brethren in Christ, and no one every knows the truth. The Christians who are on the wrong side of the question go on and “build their church” and seem to enjoy all the blessings of God and suffer none of the negative consequences of having stood against the truth and having opposed a faithful brother or sister. How is it that they are not put to shame? Let me assure you: the game (if I can call it that) is not over yet. There is still coming a time when the “shame” of such actions will be meted out. However, we must be careful here. I don’t at all want to say all of this so that anyone can read it and start planning for the vengeance dance when the Lord brings down an enemy, either in this life or on Judgment Day. The Holy Spirit did not have Peter write this to have anyone gleefully plan the “shaming” of his enemies. He said it, and I have written this, merely to give the faithful who suffer for being faithful the encouragement of knowing that God sees your suffering and will take care of you.

Let me encourage you to go out this week and prove zealous for what is good! After all, who is there to harm you if you do? No one! That is because God is on your side. He loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates