13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
In this culture that values strength and courage in the movies, but devalues it in the realm of ideas, these words written so long ago ring like a Microsoft buzzer, calling for our attention. One of the first things I do when I start to use a computer is turn off all the sounds that Microsoft so kindly included in their operating system. You know those sounds, calling from within, saying, “I’m important, pay attention to me.” Those sounds detract from my work; they get in the way of productivity. I find it interesting when people spend so much time absorbed in their online worlds. It is as if that world takes a higher priority than the world of flesh and blood. Or people who are constantly forwarding or creating the latest news flash that signals the end of the world as we know it, or the rise of the one world government, instead of spending time and energy praying for and reaching those we see and meet every day. It is subtle, but I think many Christians have moved off the track ever so slightly. Important things seem to squeeze out the eternal. That is why Paul writes that we must be on guard. It is easy to get sidetracked. It only takes a movement of an inch to move a train off one track and onto another, and the destination of the new track can be devastating. It is hard not to get swept along by the many good causes, the many dangers that invade our world every day. That is why we must stand firm. We have the truth and simply need to focus on that truth. Why trade our granite for Styrofoam? Take courage! Let the winds of fad blow right by. It will get lonely on that granite, but when the Styrofoam breaks apart, as it inevitably will, they will see your stability and seek refuge. I am not saying that we don’t need to be wise as serpents, aware of what is going on around us, cognizant of the culture. But we need not jump on their temporary circus float. It gets awfully scary standing for the truth. Many attacks will come your way. So you need to be filled with courage and strength, the courage and strength that come directly from God.
The Arnold Journey 