So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what men shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:6
Many years ago, a preacher in Ireland had built a huge sign on which he had painted Gospel texts in large letters. He installed handles on the sign so that he and a helper could carry it through the city to the location where he was conducting nightly Gospel meetings. He requested the help of a young man, who agreed to join him. But as they carried the sign through the busy streets, people began to mock and insult them, and some threw objects at them and at the sign. This was too much for the young man, who dropped his end of the sign and slunk away into the crowd, leaving the preacher standing still with the sign. But the preacher did not have to stand alone long. Another young man came along, and seeing the preacher’s plight, seized the idle handles on the sign, and marched gladly along to the meeting place. He even lifted his voice to join the preacher in singing a Gospel song as they marched, heedless of the insults and stones of the crowd. The insults and missiles directed at each of those two young helpers were the same. But something made a huge difference in their response to the opposition. Something makes a huge difference today among Christians as we face the world’s opposition to our Lord and His message.
Not fearing what men may do unto us has given us the Book of the Acts. Not fearing what men may do unto us has given us the martyrs of the early centuries and of the Reformation. Not fearing what men may do unto us has given us the great exploits of the giants of the faith. Not fearing what men may do unto us has given us the soaring numbers of modern-day martyrs in lands controlled by the communist, Islamic, and Hindu haters of Christ and His Gospel. And not fearing what men may do unto us has given us faithful Christians throughout the centuries and throughout the world today who obey the Word of God and who prosecute the Great Commission of our Lord despite dangers, threats, and discomforts. Everything that has been accomplished for Christ has been accomplished by those who did not fear what men would do unto them. The secret to all of this is actually found in the promise of the previous verse: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
Martyrs who faced the lion, the sword, and the flame have rejoiced at the presence of the Lord in their moment of trial. The knowledge of our Lord’s faithful presence and support is what has sustained countless saints in countless trials in the past, and what will sustain every saint today. To place our trust in the power and the presence of our Lord is to place His power and presence above everything of this world. Our greatest victories are to be found in the truth of the Lord as our helper. -Jim MacIntosh