He Is Strong

"If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' doe snot he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over you soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (Pr0v. 24:10-12, ESV).

These words are meant to strike at the heart. They are a stern warning against cowardice. By informing the reader of the implications of fainting in the face of adversity, the wise man is teaching them to strengthen themselves. He is not saying, "Hey, if you faint, it's no big deal." He is saying, "Fainting in the face of adversity, means you're a coward. Don't be a coward."

Whatever hardship the sage envisioned, threatened not only the integrity of his pupils, but also the very lives of others. He charges his students, "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter." If they will not stand strong for the sake of their reputations, they must stand strong for the lives of others. There were several who heeded this call in Nazi Germany by hiding Jews. Unfortunately, there were many more who fainted it the day of adversity. Several are speaking out about the atrocities of our day, like abortion and genocide. Yet, many more are beginning to show the signs of a swoon. The struggle will prove to hard for them.

The wise man presses farther, "If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' dos not he who weighs the heart perceive it?". In other words, we can't claim ignorance with God. He isn't impressed with excuses like, "I didn't know it was that bad," or "I had no idea," or "It's not may neighborhood/country". He knows what we know. He also know that he has commanded us to love one another, to keep an eye on one another, to care for each other, and to bear one another's burdens.

He searches the hearts, he does not read the lips. He knows what is really going on in our inner person. And we are warned that he will "repay man according to his works". We cannot turn a blind eye to the struggles of others, and claim immunity. If we have the ability to do good for another, and refuse to do it, then we sin against God and against that person. It takes more than a pro-life bumper sticker. It takes Christians willing to adopted or help fund an adoption. It takes more than reading the Voices of the Martyrs updates. It takes Christians surrendering to the call to missions and going into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Friends, will we faint in the face of adversity or by the grace of God will we stand?