Plant yourself like a tree:
How do you manage to stay on the path, in a time when no one wants to see Christianity remain. Compromise where you can, but where you can’t, don’t. Even if everyone is telling that something wrong is something right, even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye and say ‘no, you move’. (partially borrowed from Captain American Civil War) How do we as Christians stand our ground in a time when the whole world seems against us? How do we maintain our principles when the world is filled with at your fingertips sin? The world is a deeply fallen place and in the midst of so much hate, and suffering, there is still love. The love of Christ is not something the world can snuff out. As a Christian we are called to stand firm where the army of the world stands against you. 2 Chronicles 20:15(NKJV) 15“And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The Lord has not given you a spirit of fear, but of courage. Your strength is not of your own, but given to you by God Almighty.
There is nothing this world can do to you to take away your salvation. Jesus Christ died for us so we may live. When the walls fall we should not fear, but remember that all things must come to an end. If we are to face our end, we do so knowing where we go. We know that Jesus Christ’s blood was shed for us to break our bondage of sin, and we rejoice knowing that one day, the reward for a life live in Christ is the golden city, Heaven. Romans 8:31“If God is for us, who can be against us?” We cannot allow the world to bring us down, and we cannot allow the world to sway us away from the truth. In this life we must be a seed planted in Christ that grows to the fullness of a tree. We must be able to weather the storm, and remain planted firm and strong. Our shield is the Lord and we hold it firm and tight so that we protect ourselves from the arrows of the Devil. We are soldiers on the front lines. We are the hands and feet of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27(NKJV) 27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” If you are going to fight a war, and go into battle you need a good shield. Like Captain America a shield such as scripture is both a shield and a weapon against the forces of darkness. The world is full of darkness, and in this fight we need to keep our armor strapped down tight. Keep the word close to our heart and when the world seems dark, allow the light of Christ to brighten the path for you to follow.
Like Captain America we do not go into battle without the protection of our shield. We allow that shield to block attacks that come from the enemy. 2 Samuel 22:31(NKJV) 31 “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” There is nothing greater than the world is His word.
In my life I’ve been knocked down and I later realized I didn’t keep my armor or my shield up. I remember a time when I was knocked down hard. I wasn’t sure I’d be getting back up, but the Lord saw me through. No matter how hard your hit be sure to get back up. As Captain America used to say “I can do this all day.” We see this sentiment in scripture also. Proverbs 24:16(NKJV) 16 “For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.”In Ephesians 6:13-17“13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
Stand firm and don’t let this world shake you. The world will push you, punch you, and do everything it can to get you to yield and bend to it’s will. The minions of the Devil are all around, and just like Hydra, hide in plane sight. There are many wolves in the world that will try to tell you Gods word, and will often make the message sound great, but in reality they are twisting scripture to fit their own agendas. Be careful of the world that will sell you lies that sound like truth. Stand for real truth, stand for real justice, stand for the Lord and the Word of the Lord.
The Arrow Preacher 