The Finest Hour

Are there times in your life that you may have reached the place where giving up seemed the best option? The day or days had not been what you expected and you grew weary? Ever think that maybe Christians should not have to face adversity, but from God’s perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians? If we all had lives without opposition, trials, or pain, we’d never really know God because we’d never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about the Lord and the realization that our strength is small but God’s strength is mighty.  In Proverbs 24:10, we read “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Life's challenges will increase our faith in God if we look to him for strength.

In 1940, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany. Hitler was marching through Europe and the invasion of Britain seemed imminent. Times were bleak and there were several leading British politicians who advocated suing for peace. Winston Churchill inspired the nation to fight on and achieve total victory – whatever the cost. In a speech on the floor of the House of Commons, Churchill said this: “We shall defend our island; whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.” Five years later, British troops took part in the allied landings in Normandy and over a year later completed the liberation of Europe. Britain went from standing alone to helping defeat one of the greatest demagogues of that century.

There may be times we feel we stand alone against the world but rest assured that as believers, we are never alone. Joshua 1:9 says this: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” There is no place a child of God is alone. There is no adversity you face that God will not fight the battle for you. This day that we live in presents the greatest opportunity to tell others about the saving grace of God. We gain strength and wisdom through our battles and realize that victory has already been won. Churchill went on to say this: "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'" I look forward to what tomorrow holds. We should want to finish strong for God and grow in his grace and when our time on earth is done, they will say that they have fought a good fight, they have finished their course, and they have kept the faith: truly this was their finest hour. Enjoy your coffee.
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Love you all,
Pastor Gary