So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. [Acts 27.25]
These three simple sentences... I don't even know how to begin to expound on the depth of their meaning! But, I shall try.
So take courage! If anything is missing in most people today, it is courage. Without courage, faith is not happening. Even back in that day, every soul on board that ship knew they were in serious trouble.
The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. [Acts 27.20]
Courage is what God has given man for when the balance of reasonable hope has given way to complete hopelessness. When knowledge and experience leave no room for "possibility," courage, if it is acted upon, steps in. Courage defiantly stares down suffering and death like welcome adversaries whose threats provide the very hill from which the light of courage may best be seen. Courage gives action to faith. Although courage is the carriage of faith, it is fully capable of transporting foolishness as well - but it doesn't get as far. The difference is...
For I believe God. While men may believe many things, it is faith in God that sets the true believer apart from the world and its idols. I digress here from the argument that 'faith is the opposite of fear' for I find myself corrected in that fear is actually faith in suffering and death highlighted by the world and its idols. The ship's captain and owner foolishly had courage until at last all hope was gone, but it was Paul's God-fueled faith that took the helm of that courage to the salvation of 276 souls.
The basis for Paul's belief in God was simple: It will be just as he said. Paul was in such relationship with God and His Word that he knew that God's Word was all that mattered. God had told Paul he must go to Rome. Courage and faith are foolishness apart from God and His Word. In contrast, courage and faith are the very manifestation of God's power when acting upon His Word.
Has God given us specific instructions? Yes, in fact, Jesus (God With Us) was not at all unclear about our mission on earth:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” [Matthew 16.19]
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [John 15.16]
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.22-24]
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.15-18]
It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [Luke 24.47]
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23]
...And these are just a few!
Do we courageously (dare) act upon God's Word in faith? The world and its idols (often masked as religion) stand in our way. The world and its idols warn us that suffering and death lie ahead. The world and its idols offer alternate solutions for safety and life - albeit at a hefty price! And, although that hefty price is temporarily quantifiable in financial terms, it is eternally quantifiable in spiritual terms: the 'math' of believing in the world and its idols is eternity in hell.
Do we really believe, "It will be just as he [God] said"?
Do we really believe God?
Will we face the world and its idols with courage that it will be just as God said? Or, will we, in hopelessness, accept the alternate solutions the world and its idols offer to mitigate fear? We MUST remember this part of Paul's story:
Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. [Acts 27.30-32]
What courage! What belief in God! What commitment to do just what God said!
Father, help us to exercise the courage that comes from faith that comes from Your Word! So be it.
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