Courage to Change the World

by Dan Dowd

Some years ago, when Dan Rather was a news anchor with the CBS Evening News, he tried a number of different sign-offs. Among them was the single word, "Courage."

We often seek examples of courage in tragic circumstances. We see it all the time in newscasts and newspaper reports after terrible circumstances.

Whether we would stand up to intervene in a possibly dangerous situation, courage is a hallmark, indeed it is a requirement, of our Christian calling. In the book of Joshua we read of God telling Joshua three times to have courage going into the land God promised Israel (1:6-7, 9).

Courage is a theme repeated in God's encouragement of His people. We read of another example in the book of Daniel 10:19, where God tells Daniel to "be strong, yes, be strong!" Daniel was completely overwhelmed in understanding the vision of the king of the North and the king of the South down through time and the death and destruction that would follow these conflicts.

In 1 Corinthians 16:13 Paul says to "be brave, be strong." The Greek word for "strong" can mean to empower or increase in vigor. That same verse in the Modern King James Version says: "Watch! Stand fast in the faith! Be men! Be strong!" In Ephesians 3:16-21 we are told that we will be strengthened by God's Spirit.

We know that only God's attributes will stand the test of time. How well do we then exercise God's way of life in our daily actions? If physical strength only profits for a little while (1 Timothy 4:8), how do we have a chance spiritually? A spiritual muscle such as courage, put to a similar conditioning regimen as a physical muscle, will only get stronger the more it is used.

It takes courage to make good decisions, to admit when we are wrong, to be a good role model and to face our fears and challenges. It takes courage to live according to God's instruction. It takes courage to not go along with the world around us. It takes courage to walk by faith. It takes courage to be a Noah, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Rahab or Paul. These men and women were flesh and blood. They had fears and concerns like many of us have—and yet with courage in God they changed the world.

Courage will give us the strength to stand up under the pressures of Satan's world. Courage will keep us focused on God's Word. Courage will put aside the fears of failing or of looking stupid in the world's eyes. Now is the time to develop and strengthen courage, so that when we are faced with an overwhelming situation we will stand. UN