Standing is A Verb

Standing. The verb. In our present time, standing is no longer a verb. In fact it’s not a posture generally observed or aspired to any longer. Because of social networking, tired

 politics, empty churches, and growing relativism, standing for anything apart from the ethos of the general society is

 not only looked down on, but is chastised. We live in a time where truth and justice have become fluid concepts, floating from one subjective idea to another. Where practical and historically proven truths are not only being redefined, but in many places forgotten. Much of the culture in our time tries to pull at those who would stand for anything outside of the collectively agreed on ideas and morality. Many have lost the courage to stand when no one else will.

Standing takes more than courage and good intentions, it takes a foundation that is unshakable. We were created by God to stand. To love Him, then reflect and sow that love to others. We are called by God to serve and love the poor in action and in secret not in sentiment and intention. We are called to forgive and love our enemies. To turn the other cheek when someone strikes us, and admit that we can’t do any of this apart from His ability in us. We were called to walk that narrow and hard road to eternal life while everyone else rides together down broad streets leading to destruction. We were called to stand.

Jesus said it this way:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.“ 

Standing is a verb. When the waves and winds of opinion and persecution come and beat on us and our faith will we stand? When the hatred and rage fuming in the hearts of those who have rejected Christ is being directed at us who love Jesus, will we stand? When the ideas of our time tell us that Jesus is one of many ways to enjoy eternity will we stand? Only if we are found as lovers of the absolution jesus and the Word that He embodies.

Before we stand, before those waves and winds come and beat at us, are we surrendered to the grace of God and through that surrender loving and obeying His commands? Is it real in our hearts? Do we take our faith seriously. If we surrender to the ability of God and His word they, not our own ability, will guarantee that we stand are are not moved.

“To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling.” Jude 24

He is able, willing and faithful to give us all we need to stand in this age. All that remains is our action. Our daily decision to pick ourselves up from the apathy and lethargy of sin and its ways. We just have to stand. He’ll hold us up.

Advertisement