Look closely at this verse where it refers to our stand in Jesus Christ. Our hope is based upon Jesus Christ and upon Him we stand. This idea of taking a stand is an old metaphor isn’t it? It’s symbolic of where our belief and our affections rest. Where do you stand on the issue of…? (You finish the sentence). We make our stand on some cause, belief, or ideology, and that becomes a focal point of how we will move forward. When Jesus is the basis of our stand, then we know we are standing on solid ground. We put our faith in Jesus Christ and we take our stand upon Him. But let’s take this a step further: We take our stand upon Christ, but will we die for Him? Let me use another figure of speech: What is your hill on which you are willing to die?
I have told my sons over the years, in moments of exasperation, when they were upset about something and would not back away from what I knew was a bad idea, “This isn’t a hill on which to die.” And they looked at me like I was crazy. The question is, where will we make our stand, and what will be our final stand? There are principles and beliefs upon which we will not budge. We are willing to take that fight all the way to the end. There will be no compromise and no surrender on the issue. For believers, at the top of the list must be our certain affirmation that Jesus is the Son of God, and He is the only way to salvation. Right alongside that is the firm belief that the Bible is God’s Holy and inspired Word – every last word of it 100% true and accurate. Countless people down through the ages made that their hill on which to die, and they did indeed die upon that hill of faith. They were tortured, crucified, hung by the neck, burned at the stake, fed to lions, beheaded, and halved and quartered. They would not back down from their steadfast belief that Jesus is the Son of God. Indeed, the world was not worthy of them. The memory of their faith remains as shining examples of those who would not deny Christ and were faithful - even unto death.
A stand upon faith in Jesus Christ results in faithfulness in a faithless world, being steadfast while others are falling away, and remaining focused upon Christ as the storms of life rage around us. A firm stand upon Christ brings about the power of God in us; power that leads to victorious Christian living.
