Stand Firm in Faith (Isaiah 7:9b)

Scripture of the Day: Isaiah 7:9b

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

The first time I read the words above, my first thought was “well, that’s a little harsh!” But the more I have pondered those words, the more I see their truth…and that perhaps they do not have to be harsh at all. Maybe the words are comforting.

I’m about to give a very personal example of what that verse brings to mind. My Uncle Charlie (who knows I’m writing this!) was diagnosed with lung cancer (and has never smoked) in early 2011. The prognosis was not, and is not, good. If I recall, with treatment, life expectancy was no more than a year. And yet he is still here. To directly quote him, “I THANK GOD, when I get up every morning, and continue to see the light of day!” Charlie stands firm in faith.

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews, Chapter 11 – READ IT if you have not!). They list many Biblical characters, most of whom you have heard of, and what they did in their lives, “By faith.”

In honor of my Uncle Charlie, here are a few things he has done “by faith” in the past year. (Note this list is not exhaustive, but contains just the few things I have been privy to.) By faith, he saw his youngest child graduate from college AND get married. By faith, he was around for the birth of his third grand-child. By faith, he still gets up and goes to work. By faith he has continued building beautiful relationships with his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family, co-workers, and church members. By faith, he wakes up every morning. By faith, he lives.

My Uncle Charlie, and his family, have a big cross to carry. Fortunately, they have a Savior big enough to handle it. At the end of all of this – Jesus is waiting. And in the middle of all of this, He is holding them up. I think you can look at the Scripture above in two ways. In a negative light, if you do not stand firm in your faith, you fall down. But if you look at it with a positive spin, it is the FAITH that is holding you up. Because when you stand firm in faith, God has your back. And if you do not stand firm in that thought, the world is going to bring you down – and you will fall.

I pray readers, that you stand firm in your faith. Not because you are afraid of punishment, but because you realize it is faith that gives you the ability to stand in the first place. If you have people in your lives who are not standing firm in faith – please stand in faith for them. Pray for them…and never stop.

Readers, keep my Uncle Charlie and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Help them stay strong in faith and pour out your love on them like Jesus asked us to. Thank you!