Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee. Matthew 4:12
A cousin of mine was driving a delivery truck for a local bakery that had grown into a brisk business in the city where it was located. After several years, my cousin decided to move on to something else. At the same time, truck drivers from another bakery in the city began to harass and threaten drivers with the company my cousin worked for. His reaction: ‘I’m not leaving now. If there’s a fight they’ll have to deal with me.’ As a result of his courage, the other drivers stood up to the threat and the cowardly opposition backed down. Like my cousin, the Lord Jesus was not one to back down in the face of threats. He went directly into Herod’s jurisdiction as soon as he heard Herod had arrested John. Truth would not be silenced.
The Lord Jesus knew all about Herod. And He was not afraid of the king. He knew about John’s challenges of Herod’s immorality. And He knew that Herod would not hesitate to silence anyone else he disliked or considered a threat. But as soon Jesus heard that John was silenced, He immediately stepped into the same territory that John was working in. You and I also need to step forward when those who hold the truth are challenged or attacked.
Truth is under attack all around us these days. And in most cases, there is little you and I can do about it. When the Bible is ridiculed or rejected in schools in favour of evolution, what can we do? Some families opt for home schooling or Christian schools to protect and preserve their children. Other institutions around us are also being swept along into the camp of those who oppose or deny God, and reject His Word. All we can do in most cases is avoid these as much as possible and refuse to become entangled with them. But where we can take a firm stand is in our homes and in our Assemblies.
The devil would love to destroy the power of a Christian home. But by following the Word of God, teaching children the truth and living the truth in our lives, displaying the order that Scripture prescribes, we can preserve our families for God and His truth. Our Assemblies should admit nothing new in terms of doctrine or practice, even at the expense of being accused of being old fashioned. Better to be old fashioned and right than up-to-date and wrong!
Do we have the courage to step forward when enemies seek to silence the Word of God? If our Lord did not shy away from danger to maintain the truth, neither should we. -Jim MacIntosh