Articles
As the enemy footsteps approached and the battle was close at hand, one particular soldier stood his ground ready to defend that which belonged to God. He was stalwart in his character and relentless in his determination, and because of his stand in that unnamed battle, generations to come would be encouraged to follow the high road of conviction.
Shammah is listed third amongst King David’s three mighty men. The stunning account of his defense is recorded in the twenty-third chapter of II Samuel. From this two-verse portion of Scripture, several varied and life-changing truths can be drawn to teach those who are presently alive the importance of a solid stance upon the Word of God.
God weakens. This is a simple fact that cannot be debated. History stands as proof of this truth. Judson, the famed missionary to Burma, was made weak on several occasions only for God to use him miraculously. Experience takes its place in line to support this thesis. Countless believers could testify of their own trials and tribulations that have served to teach them implicit reliance upon the Almighty. The Biblical record also stands as an irrefutable witness to the reality that God fulfills this task.
Whether a soldier wins or loses in the midst of battle largely depends upon his focus. A right focus involves a proper knowledge of the facts and diligent concentration. If these two elements are missing the soldier is sure to lose in the struggle against his opponent. In I Samuel 14, there is a tremendous example of a warrior who had a proper focus. He was not distracted by the overwhelming odds that faced him, but instead placed all of his attention upon the One who was fighting for him.
For nearly fourteen centuries men thought that the earth was the center of the solar system. In fact, there was never any documented debate in the matter until a book entitled “On the Revolution of Celestial Spheres” was written in 1450 AD. The author, Nicolas Copernicus, concluded that there had to be a simpler explanation for the heavenly bodies, their placement, their movement, and their effect on the earth’s seasons. His presentation of the heliocentric model shattered the geocentric theory which had for so long captivated men’s minds. Though it sparked a very volatile argument, it changed the face and the perspective of astronomy for good and forever.
Should the task of describing Christianity fall as your responsibility and only two words could be used to accomplish this feat, what words would you choose? There are some who would select rules & regulations to describe their life in Christ. Others may cull through their vocabulary and decide that do’s & don’ts would fit the bill. Still there would be those who, for their explanation, would present trust & obey as adequate. If this task fell to me, and from the library shelves of our language I had only two words to choose, without question I would select GRACE & GRATITUDE.
Our family always enjoyed woodworking. From my youngest recollection, Dad had a great wood shop furnished with all the necessary tools. During my last two years of high school, I developed an interest in wood carving, especially as it related to waterfowl. Dad, always wanting to encourage my development, took me to carving shows, bought me books on the subject, and soon began to equip me with the necessary tools to carve. The result was a deep love for this art and wood carvings that still grace our home today. In a similar way, when a God-called evangelist launches into the field of evangelism, he needs certain know-how and tools. These will enable him to carve out a ministry that will greatly honor the Lord!
