We have posted many times about courage. How God time and again shows He values courage from His people. David was courageous and called a man after the Lord’s heart. Job was courageous and stood firm despite the horrible curses that God allowed to come upon him. Elijah was courageous as he took on the 450 prophets of Baal, only with God and himself.
This week the world witnessed a remarkable display of courage. One woman, has stood up against the “law” of the land for God’s law! She has claimed her actions are on “God’s authority”. Now can we who claim to love the Lord really take in what she has done?
To really comprehend what she has done we need to look at this from our view, we who are called “Seventh-day Adventists”. How should we relate to this act of courage? To begin with we should know the word of God says the following–
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”(Rev. 21:7-8)
The words of Christ are clear–Be a coward, and you’ll be the first not to inherit the kingdom. The cowardly are listed first and foremost in God’s word above. There is a purpose of each and every jot and tittle of God’s word.
The world is fast closing its probation, the final closing events are around the corner, and Satan has been given more free rein to start to set up his abominable ways into our society. Gay relations are clearly against the word of God. Sodom and Gomorrah is the primary example of the Lord’s view upon a perverted lifestyle.
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous ones will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:10)
Her name is Kim Davis. She has been employed as the Rowan county clerk in Kentucky. As part of her duties she has to sign off on marriage certificates. Being a Christian she has steadfastly refused to sign off on couples who are gay and requesting a marriage license. This has caused an uproar not only in Rowan county but now across the nation. A real God-given test for all to see!
Now she has been booked in jail for refusing a court order to issue gay marriage licenses. But what i find truly remarkable is her prominent display of the Christian character in all this. After being told she must go to jail, she simply responded to the judge, “thank you”.
“Bless those cursing you, pray for those mistreating you.” (Luke 6:28)
What can we as SDA learn from this woman? First , we as SDA know that we have been granted “great light” on Bible prophecies and truth. We know much more Truth that the Babylon churches, yet what church does this woman belong to? A Babylon church! Despite her having little light as to God’s end time truths and even present truth–she is walking in the light she knows! She’s a doer of God’s word.
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
We as SDA often fall woefully short walking in our light. We claim to be messengers of God , telling the people the truth of the sanctuary, Sabbath observance, end time prophetic events, etc. Yet how many of us step forward with courage?
Here we see a woman not afraid to stand up for God and His word! Wow! Small light yet great BIG courage. We did a post called “If we talk the talk, we must walk the walk” a few years back. Kim Davis issued this statement.
“I’m very steadfast in what I believe. I don’t leave my conscience and my Christian soul out in my vehicle and come in here and pretend to be something I’m not. It’s easy to talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?”
In our history there stands out three specific examples of courageous stands for God.
David– While king Saul and his army were exceedingly afraid of the Giant 9 foot Goliath and his men, young David stepped out in total faith that God would back him up–He did.
Elijah– Elijah was not bowed down by being scorned and derided by the people. The whole land had laughed and scoffed that he was a man of God. His attire , simple and poor, led them to believe God was not with this poor deluded man. We all know the great courage Elijah showed in the showdown in front of the overwhelming majority. They forgot that God IS the majority.
Martin Luther– Even though not having the greatest light in his time, he nevertheless boldly took on the Roman empire single-handedly , and of course with God’s purpose and strength. He walked in the light he knew and stood up to the world’s hierarchy and empire when no one else dared.
These three men proved that God was with them. Their purpose and goal was achieved because God was with them and backed their courage to stand up for Truth and right doing.
Are we as SDA standing up for God today? Do we correct a brother or sister during Sabbath lunch time when they want to talk about the latest game or business transaction? Do we gently warn a sister when she continues week after week to walk into God’s presence in the Sanctuary in a dress that resembles a night club dress? If we can’t muster up the courage here, do we at least tell the elder or pastor about such dis-honor in God’s house? Do we correct someone who says God’s name in vain in front of us?
Let us be just like Kim Davis, and be not afraid to do the right thing.
“It is the essence of all right faith, to do the right thing at the right time.” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.24)
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deut. 31:6)
“But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5:29)
In closing, will you join me in prayer in behalf of this courageous woman?
“Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.” (Psalms 142:6-7)
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
Leave a comment