She Stood Alone
Aaron Beard
She sits on the edge of her bed in tears and the cold chill of being all alone runs throughout her body. Every one of her friends were going and had been pressuring her for months to “be your own person and go!” They told her, “It’s your SENIOR year… don’t pass this moment up for something so silly!” Even her boyfriend did not understand why she had to have such “odd convictions” and had told her that if she did not go with him, he would “find someone else.” She realized exactly what these words meant. As she sat there crying over the situation she found herself in, she could not help but to feel all alone. It seemed like no one understood why she refused to go to the prom. Was this what standing up for the Lord and doing what is right is all about?
This situation is all too familiar for young people facing the pressures that come along with being a Christian in high school, especially one where there are not many if any other Christians to stand with. Even those who are older, who have entered the business world, are placed in circumstances that can lead to the exact same feelings. While times like these will likely come for one who has determined to serve the Lord, it is not likely that these times will envelop the majority of one’s life. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). Overall, the Christian walk is a walk of joy, happiness, peace, and hope!
Taking A Stand
Those who are “of the world” do not and really cannot understand the faith and commitment of one who refuses to follow the crowd into sin. Peter wrote, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4). Since a Christian refuses to “run with them” it is likely that he will be looked at as being odd; however, this is exactly what should happen. Christians “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (2 Peter 2:9).
Are You Really Standing Alone?
While the feeling of loneliness may be overwhelming when one determines to make a stand for the Lord, it must be realized that one is not standing alone. There have been many other courageous people who determined that even if no one else stood by their side they would do what was right. Elijah stood once in front of the children of Israel facing the prophets of Baal and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” The people were silent and so Elijah responded, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord…” (I Kings 18:21-22). In writing to Timothy Paul said, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me” (2 Tim. 4:16). There are also men like Joshua, Daniel, Peter and John who refused to shrink in the face of evil. IWhen you stand firm for the Lord you are standing with men like Elijah, Daniel, Paul, and all the others then and now who refuse to give in to the ways of the world.
Granted, as you stand up for the Lord’s cause there may be occasions where it seems like you are all alone; however we can be reassured that this is not the case. Concerning the same occasion Paul told Timothy about when “no one stood with me,” Paul goes on to say, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me… and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (2 Tim. 4:17). The Lord has promised us that if we will stand for him He will not forsake us. The Hebrew writer says, “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Rewards For Standing For The Lord
When one is dealing with the rejection of men that comes when one stands for the Lord (John 3:19-21) it can be hard to see the brightness in the situation; however, the Lord tells us that there is great rewards for those who would be so courageous. Jesus said “whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Mark 10:32-33). Times when we must make a decision about standing for the Lord can either be an occasion by which we determine to grow or an occasion for our faith to be torn down. The decision is ours! Peter speaks concerning trials, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (I Peter 1:6-7). If we determine to be steadfast the results of that testing will be growth in the Lord. The Lord also promises “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).
Times will come in our lives of service to God when we have to take a stand for what is right. It may be that no one else will stand with us. Will we stand firm for the Lord or follow the crowd?
~ Aaron Beard