The Sin of Cowardice

Numerous Western Movies include tense face-offs with cowboy hat wearing, cigar smoking men staring each other down, fingers tapping or hands hovering over a holstered revolver.  Sometimes the better gunman tries to goad the other into drawing his pistol by insulting him:  "You're a coward!"  Among these Hollywood depictions there seems a code of honour foreign to my experience, that even a cold blooded killer waits for his opponent to make the first move lest it not be a "fair fight."  To kill a man in cold blood before an audience that cowered behind curtains seemed more dishonourable than being "Wanted Dead or Alive" or hanged by a sheriff for murder.

In school I read about people in the U.S. Civil War era who were literally branded on their face for deserting or cowardice.  Whilst armies defined this as deserting in the face of an enemy, being called a coward today is more an insult than a dereliction of duty.  It may be surprising to know the Bible speaks of cowards objectively and condemns cowardice as a sin.  Cowardice is totally opposed to God's character as demonstrated by Jesus Who was courageous, compassionate and resolute in the face of adversity and torture.  The contrast between born again believers and those who die in their sins based on their relationship with God is seen in Revelation 21:7-8:  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  A person guilty of cowardice is one governed by fear for himself rather than the fear of God.  The cowardly is one who lacks courage, is timid and fearful.  In this motley assortment of sins common to all men, surprisingly cowardice is the first mention.

Cowardice and unbelief are sins in this grouping that always lead to additional sin.  I wonder how many times it was cowardice that prompted someone to lie in the hopes of avoiding trouble.  Now I have heard many sins warned against, but cowardice has never been one of them.  It is always good to put a face to our sin, to recognise its ugly mug and call it by name.  Rather than railing against sin as any hypocrite can do, we ought to repent of it.  A person who is born again by faith in Jesus continues to live in flesh that tends toward sin, and thus we must be sober and vigilant to not allow fear and timidity to rule our lives instead of obedience to Jesus.  Since my cowardliness once condemned me to the eternal flames of hell like unbelief, hatred (akin to murder), sexual immorality, idolatry and lies, I am to confess and repent of it.  True repentance compels me to walk by faith to serve Jesus and fear Him--rather than fear over what man thinks or can do to me.

Looking to Jesus provides an example of humility, boldness and courage that ought to continually inspire and guide us.  Rather than seeking to disgrace or condemn us for our cowardice, God would have us confess our idolatry of feelings that permits fear to rule us.  Cowardice is a sin Jesus has conquered, and thus there is hope for us in Him for all infected and afflicted by it.  We need not be ruled by it any more.  May God's words to Joshua echo in our hearts concerning our divine duties in Joshua 1:9:  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  By faith in God we can be courageous like Jesus who will never leave or forsake us.

Noise and God's Voice

Today I had a little project of re-routing air conditioning ducts at church.  Over the years rooms have shifted around and the hope is consolidating some branch lines will provide more even temperatures throughout the building.  As I worked, I was listening to a baseball game on my phone I carried around in my pocket.  I grew up using a trusty transistor radio to catch the games during baseball season so it feels quite natural.

After I was done moving ceiling tiles around, I vacuumed the carpets.  While it was very easy to hear the phone speaker in a quiet office building, the noise of the vacuum deafened the audio completely.  If you had told me, I wouldn't have believed the app on the phone was still working.  But the second the vacuum was switched off, the voices could be clearly heard again.  It struck me how this was a good illustration of how the world is full of noise--whether it be voices from a phone or the mechanical drone of a vacuum.  We can be so accustomed to needing some sort of visual or audio input we can neglect our need to seek the LORD in silence to hear His still, small voice.

When we are awake in this modern day our focus can be on beat of the pumping music, engaging with sermons and podcasts, listening to the news, scrolling socials or locked into a video game.  All this constant input reveals our need to intentionally set time aside to seek the LORD.  God's grace was ironically shown that despite the noise of the loud vacuum that drowned out the baseball commentators and advertisements, God was able to cut through it all like nothing and speak to me.  God is able to bypass the ears and go straight to the heart.  There are people who have become used to needing music to sleep or have a noise machine to help them drift off.  With all the noise in our lives, insomnia may be our needed break from the hubbub when God has us as a captive audience.

Today God reminded me of my need to seek and listen to Him intentionally throughout the day, even as we turn on an app to listen to a game or go to the maintenance closet for a vacuum.  The God who created the tongue and communication through language speaks to us.  If it has been a while since you have heard from the LORD it is not His lack of speaking but our hardness of hearing.  Make some of your time quiet time with the intention of drawing near to God, praying, reading His word and thinking about what He has said and is saying.  Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."  As we follow Christ, we ought to follow His example of praying, listening and obeying.

Healing for Bitterness

People of genuine faith in God are not immune from the blight of bitterness.  After Naomi returned to her inheritance in Bethlehem, she said to townsfolk who barely recognised her in Ruth 1:20-21:  "But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. ²¹ I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"  Naomi returned from Moab embittered against God, and her demeanor was the opposite of her name which meant, "lovely, delightful, pleasant and friendly."  Blaming her afflictions for her bitterness, she spewed it on anyone near her.  She suggested a more suitable name be Mara, which means "bitter."

Naomi's name suggestion was a historical reference that went back to the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.  While Mara seemed a fitting name for her bitter attitude, unwittingly this meant there was hope for her.  After God brought the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea, they looked for water and found none.  When they finally found water they were dismayed when it was found to be bitter and undrinkable.  That is how the waters of Marah were given their name.  But they did not remain that way, for God miraculously healed the waters so the people and their beasts could drink and their lives be sustained.  It took a miracle to heal the waters of Marah, and would take an act of God to change Naomi and us as well.

Exodus 15:23-26 says what happened:  "Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" ²⁵ So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."  When Moses cried out to God in prayer, the LORD directed Moses to cast a tree into the water and they were made sweet.  God made them a promise He would heal those who trusted and obeyed Him even as the bitter water was made drinkable and delicious.

Trials, affliction, loss and sorrow can embitter us, but God is faithful to heal us.  When Jesus was crucified on Calvary, a way of salvation was provided by faith in Him that fills believers with the Holy Spirit, the Living Water Jesus promised to provide.  Having been born again, we are empowered to follow Jesus and walk in obedience to Him--our Good Shepherd Who leads us beside still waters.  No matter what happens to us, we ought not justify remaining bitter.  Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty, but we are filled with the presence of the Living God born in Bethlehem.  True to His word, the end of the book of Ruth does not end with Naomi bitter over her loss but celebrated a grandson Obed through whom king David and later the Messiah Jesus Christ would come.  How great is God's grace to heal us of our bitterness.

Settled in Our Hearts

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 5:10-11

As Peter wrapped up his letter, he warned how the devil prowls about seeking whom he may devour.  He told believers they all would experience afflictions and seasons of suffering, both of a spiritual and physical nature.  Jesus told His disciples they would hear of wars and commotions but not to be terrified, even when these proved to be more than rumours but the real thing.  There would be conflicts between nations, earthquakes, famine and pestilence.  Despite all these things, Peter said the God of all grace would be faithful to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle all who trust in Jesus.  When the lives of Christians are marked by fears, worries and anxiety, it is evidence we have stopped short of entering into the rest He has provided us to experience today.  God or our circumstances are not to be blamed for the cares we carry, but we must take responsbility for every one of them and cast them upon Jesus who cares for us.

When we hear what we deem to be bad or unwelcome news, we are naturally troubled--not settled.  We can be disturbed about the suffering others are experiencing or potential suffering we might someday face.  But God, the LORD who is a Saviour and has dominion forever, He has called us and is faithful to do all He has promised.  Christians are not at rest because they are ignorant of what people suffer in this world or never experience traumatic suffering themselves:  established by faith on our Rock of Salvation we are able to endure violent waves that would render others a ruin.  We can remain strong and steadfast in the LORD and in the power of His might because we trust Jesus and obey Him.

It is good for us to be reminded of our good standing and God's promises especially before and during times of trouble.  Jesus told His disciples what would happen in the future not so they would fret or worry, but so they would realise He was in control.  None of the persecution of the church was beyond the reach of God to redeem for His good purposes; not one satanic assault caught God off guard.  Jesus said in Luke 21:12-15, "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. ¹³ But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ¹⁴ Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist."  Because God would perfect, establish, strengthen and settle His people, they could be settled in their hearts by faith God would make them His witnesses in pressure situations.

Here is an interesting thing:  Jesus told His disciples they would be hauled before councils.  One might assume He did this so they could prepare statements concerning the divinity of Jesus Christ, His worthiness to be praised and their loyalty to Him--almost like preparing for a test or a job interview.  But Jesus told them this, not so they would prepare a speech, but to settle their hearts to trust Jesus to help them speak on the day.  The preparation required was to settle their minds and hearts, that it would be as if it was already done.  We say "That's settled!" when a decision has been made and there is no more to do, and this is fitting in the case of the disciples because Jesus Himself would be faithful to do the work.  How encouraging it is that God will settle us, and we can be settled in our hearts, confident in in His word and wisdom.