Have you ever heard or said something to the effect of, “I wish I would have lived in the time of Jesus,” or “I wish I lived back in the good old days”?
What if I were to tell you that God has literally placed you and me in this world for such a time as this? Would that change your perspective? As Christians, we love to read the Biblical accounts of the tremendous exploits that were carried out by the people of God, but for some reason, we often fail to carry their lessons into our own lives. From the earliest accounts in the Old Testament, to the powerful and loving instruction to the saints in the New Testament, we are encouraged to engage our world, not hide from it.
I want to encourage you to boldly stand and realize that God has a tremendous plan for your life in these trying days. Of course, as we look out at the horizon, we see all kinds of challenges. But in all of church history, when have there not been challenges? It is my hope that from this moment forward you will no longer look at challenges as difficulties but as opportunities.
In every generation, believers have lived out their faith for something greater than the comforts of the moment. It would have been much more comfortable for David to stay back in his young shepherd’s role than to encounter the foul-mouthed threats of Goliath. But David, who knew his God and had faith in the Almighty, knew that something had to be done. He courageously stepped forward, and God used him to slay the giant!
That very same God placed you and me in this country (or whatever country you live in) to make a great difference. In fact, the more difficult and challenging the giant is before you, the greater the opportunity to be the salt and light God has called you to be.
I’m not blind to the opposition that we face as believers. After all, I live in California, and I have been standing against the cultural evils here for nearly 50 years. It is true that we’ve lost many battles in the public square, but I remind myself that the Scripture makes it very clear that not only do the battles belong to the Lord, but He is the One who has already won the war! In light of that truth, I want to encourage you to take a stand on every front and resist the evil in the world around you. You have been encouraged by His Word, you are indwelt by the power of His Spirit, and you are sealed until the day of redemption.
I often remind our church that they have been galvanized by God to live out their faith in public and without apology. There are many people today who have no hope or purpose, but you and I hold the keys of truth that can set them free if we would only determine to be used as instruments of God’s grace and mercy. There are infinite lessons we can learn from the Bible, but this is one thing they all have in common: They teach us that we can confront our modern-day battles with eternal truth. Epic clashes like the one between David and Goliath are not reserved for super-saints or for famous Christians. No, thank God that He uses each and every one of us who is willing to get involved by standing upon Biblical truth and letting that truth be told.
The greatest thing that you can do right now is to say, “Lord, here I am. Send me.” When you do that, expect Him to work in and through your life. From the moment you pray that prayer, be looking for an open door to speak up, to show up or to stand up. Most often in my own life, when I have prayed that prayer, God has not failed to present an opportunity that gets my attention. And when it does, I know He will fill my mouth with His truth to speak to that issue. It could be among my family, within the city council, a school board, our state capitol or even our nation. God has raised each of us to serve a particular purpose that will glorify Him, and I encourage you today to determine to be a person who seeks to fulfill that purpose.
Please join with me in praying, “Lord Jesus, I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and to send me forth with Your Word. I am here, and I am willing. Will You use me to do something for Your Kingdom today? I may not be powerful, and I may not be strong. I may not be the most educated, but I know You can use anyone or anything, so I ask You to make a difference in the world by making use of me.”
Friend, if you prayed that prayer, let us look together for the next open door, the next opportunity to be used by the Lord, wherever He wants to use us until He returns.
