Hero of Faith

What do the old Bible stories mean to you? Most of us have grown up hearing the stories of people like David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, Daniel and the lion’s den, and Adam and Eve.

Have you pondered the lessons in those stories? Paul said in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Moses told Joshua in Joshua 1:8-9, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

This “law” of God was designed to be a guide to a new pattern of thinking. It would have been natural to be afraid to enter into a land you’ve never been in, because you’ve heard of the giants that lived there, their strong armies, or their fierce and brutal tactics against outsiders. Yet, God called Joshua to step across the Jordan river and go confront the enemy.

One lesson that seems obvious is that Joshua only had God’s word to go on concerning his success. Meanwhile, the world around him was telling him that these foreign people couldn't b beat. Even his own kinsmen said things like “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” (Numbers 13:31). We can hear those same voices today all around us. We have to rise above the temptation to believe them, and instead Believe God!

Hebrews 13:5-6, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. So, we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Jesus had to remind His closest followers of that fact as well. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you…” (John 14:1-2). Joshua’s example of trusting God throughout his conquest of Canaan, should serve as a lesson to us as well. Remember Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Freedom

What’s freedom really look like? The ability to do whatever you want? That sounds like freedom on one level, but as we dive deeper in our understanding of the concept of freedom, we realize there’s much more than doing whatever you want. In fact, freedom might have more to do with voluntarily doing what is good for other people.

Our nation has a rich heritage of the concept of freedom from that perspective. They risked a lot to help set the groundwork for a free nation. But what did that mean to them? Many of them were already wealthy, already had the option to “do as they wanted.” They realized what oppressive tyranny would do to the poor and the defenseless, and ultimately all people.

Their reasons for rebelling against England wasn’t really for personal gain; as much as the fact that they truly believed that the loss of freedom was worse than death. We look to their words as inspirational today. Here are a few of them.

“You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve YOUR freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it.” - John Adams

“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms.” - Samuel Adams

“They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security.” - Benjamin Franklin

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” - Nathan Hale

“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” - Alexander Hamilton

“It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” - Patrick Henry

“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” - Thomas Jefferson

“Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interests of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens.” - George Mason

“Those people who will not be ruled by God will be ruled by tyrants.” - William Penn

God compels us to live a life of FREEDOM that is really only made possible when we follow Christ’s example. Who will learn from our example?