Courage Emerges

“Courage emerges, not from increased police security, but from enhanced spiritual maturity…

‘We’ve got some difficult days ahead, [Martin Luther King, Jr.] told the crowd. ‘But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.’ 

from the book Fearless by Max Lucado

Martin Luther King, Jr. would be dead in less than 24 hours after making these statements. Oh the faith of this man who had his eyes set on eternity!

“Jesus once and for all displayed his authority over savagery. Evil may have her moments, but they will be brief. Satan unleashed his meanest demons on God’s Son. He tortured every nerve ending and inflicted every misery. Yet the master of death could not destroy the Lord of life. Heaven’s best took hell’s worst and turned it into hope.” Max Lucado

The evil around us seems to be growing at an alarming rate. But, didn’t Jesus tell us this would happen?

Here is what Jesus Himself told us:

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be faminesand earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:4-14

When we are temped to despair, we must re-focus. We must fix our eyes on Jesus. We must declare our trust and hope is found in Christ alone. We know the end of the story. 

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” Corrie Ten Boom

This little nugget of truth has proven true for me so many times in my own life. When I am tempted to despair, I must ask myself, WHAT am I focusing on? Where do I have my attention placed? What are my expectations in this situation? Am I depending on Christ or am I depending on myself?

Friends, amid all of the evil swirling in our world today, let us look to God and our hearts will be at rest.

 

More from Fearless

• What if Faith Was Our Default?
• An Unstirred Christ
• A Greenhouse of Prayer
• Look Into the Storm
• Keep Your Gaze on Jesus
• Extinguishing Fear