Confront the Giants in Your World
Recently our oldest grandson took
on the challenge at a local Mexican restaurant to eat their meal called “El
Gigante” or “the giant.” Anyone who eats this oversized burrito in its entirety
is rewarded with a T-shirt attesting to their victory, along with a free
dessert. Our teenage grandson had no problem completing the mission. He even happily
polished off the dessert afterwards. Interestingly enough, he was actually following
in the footsteps of his uncle – our son – who accomplished the same feat many
years ago at approximately the same age.
When we think of challenges and
giants, many of us associate it with the familiar story in the Bible about
David and Goliath. The Philistine “El Gigante” didn’t challenge the members of
Israel’s army to try to overcome him with forks and big appetites, but rather
with swords and spears. Yet no one was willing to stand up to him until young
David came along. And he chose his own unorthodox weapons - a staff and a
sling. He rightfully recognized that this giant wasn’t just challenging an army
of men, but he was defying the one true God. So instead of running away from the
giant, David ran toward him with the confidence that “this day the Lord will
deliver you into my hand…for the battle is the Lord’s” (I Samuel 17:46-47). The result? “David prevailed over the Philistine
with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him” (v.50).
What giants are you facing today? Some
of us may be dealing with our own personal Goliaths – huge issues that are singular
to us and our particular circumstances. Others of us are facing off against the
same giants – the ones that are marching forth in our day as a challenge to all
who align themselves with God, Jesus, and the teachings of the Bible. Some of
them are trying to bully us into submission. Others are working more craftily,
using deception and propagating half-truths in order to try to get us to
surrender our loyalty to the Lord and His Word.
What do we do? We could choose to do
nothing. We could wait, watch, and cower in fear as the army of Israel did each
day as Goliath came forth with his challenge. Or we can move forward and confront
the giant as David did. We can trust God to be with us, to give us whatever
strength and wisdom we need, and to help us gain victory over that enemy. In some
cases, He may enable us to slay the giant. In other cases, He may help us
endure those challenges and to overcome by maintaining a steadfast faith in the
Lord in spite of the efforts of the enemy to destroy us.
A favorite hymn should inspire us: “Lead
on, O King Eternal, we follow not with fears; for gladness breaks like morning
where’er Thy face appears. The cross is lifted o’er us; we journey in its
light. The crown awaits the conquest; lead on, O God of might.”
The giants are challenging us
today. Let’s just remember as David did that they’re not only standing against
us. They’re defying God Himself. Therefore let’s trust the Lord to defend His
name, to protect His people, and to enable us for the battle. Let’s also keep
in mind that like David we may need to use different weapons. As another verse
of that song indicates, “For not with swords’ loud clashing, nor roll of
stirring drums, with deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes.”
Let’s take up our sling and stone,
our faith and love, and run to meet the giants who are challenging our God and
His people today.
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