Since the beginning of time, mankind has fought, bled, and died. Wars and catastrophes (both natural and man-made) have resulted in a small segment of our population being called into action. Warriors, medical professionals, police officers, firefighters: veterans of conflicts and circumstances they wouldn't wish on anyone else have answered that call throughout history.
But then the guns go quiet. The sirens fall silent. The state of emergency passes. The deployments come to an end. The stress and the life or death decisions are no longer required. The situation has seemingly settled. The world seems to go on with life, but sometimes the past doesn't stay in the past.
Another giant raises its ugly head. In some ways, the coming battle is even worse than those faced in defense of one's country, saving lives, or keeping a community safe. This giant is coming for the guardian's blood.
Does that sound familiar? Situations like that remind me of a man in the Bible named David.
The Guardian
David was a warrior, a general, a king, a leader of men, and a guardian. The Bible tells us he was just a "youth" when he ran towards the battle for the first time and killed a brutal enemy soldier moments later, a literal giant named Goliath. David was exceedingly skilled in combat, even against vastly stronger foes. His combat days increased, and thousands of enemy combatants fell at his hand or leadership. More impressive still, his men respected him so intensely that they often took on grave risks and dangerous missions simply because HE was their leader.
His prowess and battle-hardened feats of bravery and courage are recorded, along with other details about his life, in the most popular single book ever written: the Bible.
Though he was not the instigator or the perpetrator, David was a participant, combat soldier, and a leader in some of the most gruesome conflicts in recorded history. He lived through, witnessed, and participated in many battles that he could not easily forget.
Outside of war, David had another life. He was a husband, a father, a musician, and a shepherd. He wrestled with the things he had done and the many sights he had seen. He even writes in Psalm 32:3, "When I kept my silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long." Internalizing the things that bothered him made his mind and body hurt. He continues in Psalm 38:4, "For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me," and Psalm 38:6, "I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long."
David goes on crying out to God to forgive him and to take this burden from him. He says, "And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee" (Psalm 39:7).
Hope is a term that is frequently misused today, being substituted incorrectly for concepts like "wish" or "desire." The word "hope" implies there is an expectation of a positive outcome. David said, "My hope is in thee," after confessing to God. He asked God to deliver him from the burden and anguish.
What does this mean? David expected that God WOULD deliver him! And God DID! David remembered his deliverance and thanked God: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:1-3).
With God's help, you too can defeat this giant of hopelessness. Don't let the enemy fool you into carrying this burden. Who is the enemy?
The Enemy
This enemy is Satan: he is the Father of Lies.
Revelation 12:9 states, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
"…He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44b).
Satan is on a mission to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10). He will stop at nothing to accomplish his evil goals.
Satan wants you to believe that the pain ends with death. It does not.
"And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame" (Luke 16:23-24). It brings me no joy to tell you that any suffering you may experience in this world is nothing compared to an eternity spent without the One who can give you the victory over your hopeless state. Let me introduce you to:
The Victor
The truth is that everyone deserves to spend an eternity in Hell. Regardless of the good works we have done, no matter our service to our country, community, or family, we are all bound for Hell. Not one of us can buy our way out. But, I have some good news.
YOU don't have to go to Hell. Notice what the Bible says: 1 John 1:8-9, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This next verse reiterates that there is hope! "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Christ, the Victor, the Son of God, subjected Himself to brutal crucifixion, became sin, and bore the wrath of God, SO THAT YOU AND I DON'T HAVE TO. Even more wondrous, He proved His power and rose from the dead so that we can have a bridge to Heaven.
John 3:16-18 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
My friend, have you accepted the free gift of eternal salvation and victory over hopelessness that Jesus Christ offers? You can do so today. God tells us in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Right now, where you are, you could pray a simple prayer. The words won't save you. You must believe in your heart. Pray to God now. Confess that you are a sinner and repent of your sins. Tell Him that you now realize you have no other way to Heaven. Ask Him to come into your life and save you.
If you did that, we want to rejoice with you! You now have a new life in Christ! You are now part of the family of God! On the back of this tract, there is some contact information. Would you reach out to us so that we can help welcome you into this new family and life?
There is one more item that I would like you to consider. You probably know others dealing with this same struggle. God has given us a duty. Through Christ, we have a grand opportunity to help others in this fight. He is calling on you to STAND.
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, TO STAND" (Ephesians 6:13).
No matter what, KEEP STANDING against the enemy. Share with others how they too can defeat their giants.
