Courage
I see a great lack of courage in our world. Our new president today has found it difficult to find singers, actors, or entertainers to participate in his inauguration. Several have reneged on their promises to perform due to pressure from their fellows. This lack of courage is not a new trend in America. In American history, a coward has long been a person to despise. The courage exhibited by soldiers, policemen and firemen is worthy of our respect, admiration and imitation.
Having read the Bible since a youth has instilled in me a love for men and women who have the courage to stand up for what is right! The courageous men and women mentioned in the pages of the Bible are worthy of our imitation. Men like Daniel, who when taken prisoner by the Babylonians, refused to eat and thereby be defiled with the heathen kings’ provisions. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8) When the Persian king came to power, and Daniel was an old man, his courage had not waned through the years for he refused to obey King Darius’ decree not to pray to God! (Daniel 6:4-10)
Daniel had three Hebrew friends who also possessed great courage. They were willing to die for their convictions to worship only God while the majority of people bowed down to the huge image that the king had made. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the King, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) That’s courage!
Esther was a woman of courage who also lived during the Persian Empire. In fact, Esther was married to Ahasuerus, the King of Persia, and yet being a Jew was subject to the same extermination planned by Haman for the Jews. She said, “… I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) Her courageous actions saved her people from destruction.
John the Baptist’s courage is admirable when he said to king Herod, “… It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife” which resulted in his head being removed from his body. (Mark 6:18) Jesus Christ continued to proclaim salvation through Himself unto the Jewish leaders who repeatedly told lies about him such as, “He cast out devils by the power of Satan.” (Matthew 13:24) They called Him names like “sinner” (John 9:24) and “Samaritan” and that He had “a devil”. (John 8:48, 52) Jesus who loves truth and righteousness and hates iniquity (Hebrews 1:9) courageously died for these same leaders as well as for all mankind. (Philippians 2:5-8) It does not surprise me when those who love fame and fortune more than truth and righteousness lack the courage to do what is right!