Standing Fast amid Stress

Yesterday we took an admiring look at an outstanding Old Testament example of Romans 12:2. You may recall that verse, where God tells us not to be conformed to the world, but instead transformed as He renews our minds moment by moment. It was the story of Jehoshaphat, who stood still and prayed while his enemy's army was on the move against his kingdom. It's an amazing display of confidence in God, and God blessed that confidence with an incredible victory for King Jehoshaphat.

As we consider God's calling of us to godly nonconformity, there's a significant concept shared by this event and Paul's armor analogy in Ephesians 6, verses13-14. Do you see it? Here it is: In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat led the people to stand still before God at the temple and pray. Soon after, in verse 17, God then instructed them, saying,

"Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you.."

Turning to Ephesians 6, verses 13-14, Paul told the church:

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore.."

Stand still; stand fast; withstand; stand therefore - even when the enemy is coming after you.The constancy of the command should capture our attention!

What we have here is a counter cultural example of the worship of abiding in God. Standing still before God in such situations is an action that defies the world's usual pattern of priorities and practices. It's power-based nonconformity.

As I think about that momentous day, I marvel at the courageous obedience of Jehoshaphat and his people! What fruitful faith! They made a conscious choice to look only to God for their salvation, instead of seeking surrogates.

Do you know why this account is in our Bibles? I think we get a clue from Romans 15, verse 4, which says:

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

God permanently recorded their experience for our encouragement to trust and obey.

God's strategy has not changed: Now, centuries later, He still tells us to abide in Him. He wants us to become creative nonconformists, standing fast before the enemy, clothed in the strength of our omnipotent God. It's another way we worship!

None of us may ever experience anything close to the adventures of Jehoshaphat. It doesn't matter. The fact remains that God does want us to stand fast in Him before our world. But it's impossible without true faith in God. It's our faith in Him that sets us free from the disabling fear of not following the crowd. He empowers us to be creative nonconformists - not for the sake of self-centered eccentricity, but for the glory of God.

Before we leave Jehoshaphat, some final observations about this outstanding leader are appropriate:

• When the pressure was on, "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat" - as he has somehow become mis-known - didn't jump at all. He stood firmly, first facing his Protector and then facing his predator. He exchanged frenzy for a fast, and he replaced hurry with heart. His decision to stop everything and wait before the Lord is not the stuff of sudden impulse. Only a seasoned worshiper could be so daring under those circumstances.
• His decision to wait in worship affected his treasure, his talent and his time in profound ways:

o His worship risked his treasure: that is, he risked his wealth, his family, and his own life.
o His worship utilized his talent: that is, his leadership inspired people to obey him in spite of their panic.
o Third, his worship cost him time: that is, he spent precious, irreclaimable days in worship instead of in preparation for war.

Life's three capital T's - treasure, talent and time - were wrapped up in this sacrificial act of worship.

We live near Palomar Mountain in southern California. Years ago, a powerful observatory was built on Palomar to study the heavens. Planners thought that the site was far enough away from the lights of Los Angeles to eliminate their interference with light from celestial bodies that the astronomers wished to study. What might have been true in the 1950's is not so in the 1990's.

"Los Angeles" now extends east to Palm Springs and "San Diego" reaches north to intersect that metropolis at Corona. Artificial light has become a substantial interference with study at the Palomar Observatory, mixing with celestial light and obscuring the reality of outer space.

Do you remember Jehoshaphat's final statement in his prayer as he and his people first stood before God in Jerusalem? "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

Helen Lemmel recaptured that same theme in a chorus penned decades ago:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes obvious that the artificial light of nearby attractions is making it difficult for us to see the far-reaching realities of life, we need to try to be like King Jehoshaphat. We need to stop our all-consuming activities and rivet ourselves to God. We need to stand fast and perform the worship of abiding.

And what will happen? God will help us see the true light. He will reverse the relentless and progressive interference of artificiality and make the things of earth grow strangely dim. He will free us; we will no longer be boxed inside the world's system. Our renewed minds will see the bigger picture that God sees. And the name of Jesus will be praised in us and through us. Hallelujah!

© 2007 John Garmo. If you would be interested in using this article, please contact us at Info@MissionToChildren.org.