The Good Guys

It was 3 1/2 years ago that I developed the phrase; it seemed appropriate at the time and I've been using it ever since.

On Easter Sunday in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), I had just completed a sunrise service in the chapel tent. I remember looking around at that particular congregation on that morning - men and women in all stages of life, of all different colors, of various nationalities, a general's wife was present as was a newly enlisted airman on their first overseas duty, all from different walks of life and all of them worshipping the risen Lord.

It was a wonderful service and I remember walking away from the tent looking at the clear sky and thinking, 'This was exactly what the Kingdom will be like.'
And it will.

That thought passed through my head as did the 11 men and women I had baptized that weekend; reportedly more people than any one chaplain had ever baptized at that airbase. Joy and thankfulness overwhelmed my heart.

It was then, with all these thoughts rushing through my head, when the national call to prayer for Muslims began to echo throughout the land over the Saudi loudspeakers.
It was at this point I had another thought and the phrase came into being.
I thought, 'I might be standing in the land of Islam, but God's people just gave them one big shot in the jaw for the Good Guys.'

Ever since that day, every time someone is led to Christ as their Savior or I baptize a new believer, I turn to the people who are around us and say, 'And that's one more, for the good guys.' The 'good guys' being Christians who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Even though believers are the 'Good Guys' in this lost and fallen world, sometimes it doesn't feel that way. Sometimes it can be so hard emotionally, spiritually and even physically - like when you're sick with a disease - that we are tempted to change our course, attempt to reverse the direction of the tide in our lives and just switch sides.
But deep down the true Christian knows that this is not the solution.
And it is in these times that a believer must turn to the one solid, stabilizing thing that adjusts our minds: The Word of God.

You see, Scripture speaks for itself and declares that all words contained within it are 'God-breathed;' since God is perfect and cannot breathe error - all Scripture is more than a holy hunch; it is trustworthy and a true word for our lives.
Scripture with the guiding of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, will bring the most down-trodden child of God into a realm of joy unspeakable.
Scripture provides hope where there is no hope; it is a bedrock of truth in an untruthful world and a certain word in uncertain times.

Tonight, in the Word of God I stumbled across a passage that many believers have read and learned; it is a verse given to us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. And while it is familiar, I don't think it comes into our personal reality until we have truly understood what it is like to suffer physically or struggle spiritually.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'
       - Romans 8:18

As Paul wrote these words, he knew what it meant to suffer in his life - as did the Christians to whom he was writing. When a person is suffering, the intent and meaning of his words come alive in their heart and life.

Adrian Rogers said it was likely that the Apostle Paul was 'the greatest Christian who ever lived.' I concur. Yet, Paul was not immune from the tragedies which beset us in our fallen world.
For his faith, Paul was beaten, imprisoned, ship wrecked, tormented, persecuted by those he wanted to reach and evidently, he suffered from very poor eyesight. Eventually, Paul was martyred in Rome - church tradition teaches he was beheaded.

It seems Paul, as he journeyed to Rome after appealing to Caesar during a trial, knew how his life would end. And yet, he was able to say that his suffering couldn't compare to the glory that would be revealed.

In my struggle with cancer, by faith I truly believe the glory that will be revealed for God through this disease will be great. I do not know how it will happen, just that it will happen.
Yet, it is not the glory which will be revealed that bothers me; it is the suffering which must be endured for God's glory to shine through.

And I believe this is the place where most Christians are located when they encounter a time of suffering and trial in their lives.

So, what do we do about the reality of a greater glory being revealed in our present suffering?
What are we to do if we are enduring a time of suffering and how do those of who are enduring suffering act in an attempt to reveal our faith in this 'greater glory' that will be revealed?

First, we are to live the truth we say we believe.
If you truly believe the promises and words of the inspired authors of the Bible, then live by faith according to what you have been taught in Scripture.
Make no mistake about it - at times, that is very hard to do.
The greater glory in your suffering is the fact that other people will see truth made real through your life. It will strengthen those who are already believers and it will draw those who do not yet believe to the Lord which you serve.

Have you ever heard that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink?
Friend, our job as Christians isn't to make or force people to drink the Water of Life; our responsibility is to make them thirsty.
Seeing you in your time of suffering living the truth you believe will make them thirsty.

Secondly, know that it is OK to ask questions of God.
This is not questioning God's goodness or His love or His compassion or any other characteristic which He owns; this is asking God about the things that you do not understand in your situation.
Isn't that what the disciples did?

Many Christians believe it is NEVER right to question anything when it comes to God; friend, nothing could be further from the truth because God wants His children to have an understanding of what is going on and what He is doing.
The only way you are going to gain that understanding is to ask.

For example, how does a 39 year-old who has never smoked, become a stage four lung cancer patient who is told there is no cure?
Certainly I don't understand this - but I know that God does.
I also believe that when this is over in my life and I walk away from this disease, I will understand why this has happened.

Finally, remember to always trust in dark times what you have learned in the light.
It has been said that faith is like film; it must be developed in the dark to be seen in the light. And it is true.

Think about your own life - when has your faith grown the most? Was it when things were roses and sunshine, or was it after you went through a horrible time of suffering and darkness?
Most likely, it was after a time of suffering.
But your faith that was developed, your closer walk with Christ that occurred, the revealing of truths about your faith - these things would have never happened if you had never experienced that time of suffering you had in your time of darkness.

Remember - don't doubt in the dark what you have learned in the light.

And do you realize what our greatest light is in this dark world?
It is the light given by God to us in the Scriptures we call the Bible. Again, it is a certain word in uncertain times.

Years ago in the days of week-long revivals and camp meetings held in open fields, there was a preacher who had come to a rural town to speak at one of these meetings. He was to stay in a cottage located along a small path near a cliff owned by a member in a local church who was sponsoring the campaign.
After the meeting concluded, it was very dark and he didn't know the way.
The church member who owned the cottage, lit a bundle of pine branches and handed it to the preacher and said, 'Take this, its light will see you home.'
The evangelist asked, 'What if the winds come and extinguish the light? What if a storm comes and puts out the light? What if the branches burn out before I get there? How will I find the way?'
The man said, 'Take the light and it will see you home.'

And I say to you, the Bible is our light in dark times; in this day and this hour.
I realize the winds of skepticism and doubt are blowing, threatening to extinguish its light.
I know the Bible may look old-fashioned and outdated next to the psychedelic flashing lights of this age.
And I know there are storms in your life that may tempt you to lay the light of the Bible aside and find your own way through your trial.

But if you will grasp onto the Word of God and hold on to its truths with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength - IT WILL LEAD YOU HOME.

Until next time, win one for the Good Guys.