Standard Bearers

Did you know that nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to give up? Instead, we find the exact opposite characteristics in the Bible’s most successful subjects. We find fruits of the spirit like long suffering, patience, courage, bravery, and perhaps the most important of all, faith. Faith is so fundamental because the Bible says that it is impossible to please God without it (Hebrews 12:6). In order to demonstrate our faith, we must stand. To stand can be defined as to be upon one’s feet, not to sit, kneel, or lie (1 Kings 8:14). There is a time to kneel and worship (Psalm 95:6). There is a time to sit and study (2 Timothy 2:15). There is a time to lie down and rest ( Psalm 23:2). But then there also is a time to get up on one’s feet and stand. To stand can also be defined as to be on its foundation, not to be overthrown or demolished (2 Timothy 2:19); to be placed or situated (Exodus 7:15); to remain upright, morally (2 Samuel 22:24); to be in a state of fixedness, to continue, to endure (Daniel 2:44, Psalm 57:7); to be in or maintain a posture of resistance or defense (Esther 8:11, Ephesians 6:11-14); to continue unchanged, not to fail or become void (1 Corinthians 15:58). 

Biblically, to stand usually has to do with being fixed, enduring, and or abiding. In the world, we hear “make a stand”, “stand for…”, “stand up for/against…”. While these themes are found in the Bible, primarily God wants us to stand up when we get knocked down (Proverbs 24:16), to stand against or resist the Devil and evil (Ephesians 6:11-14, Galatians 5:1), and to stand or rest on Christ and his Word (1 Corinthians 15:1-2, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Philippians 1:27). While to stand can have many meanings and applications, let us apply it to our lives in the form of getting up. Because some of us are still down on the ground and haven’t risen to our feet yet, God commands and encourages us to stand, to continue, to endure, and to abide. 

Moses was instructed by God to “stand before pharaoh” (Exodus 8:20). This “stand” is one of physically being on the feet, but more importantly, it has to do with taking a position or stance of boldness and authority. Moses commanded the Israelites to “stand still” while he went to hear from the Lord (Numbers 9:8). This “stand” indicates standby, wait, don’t worry.  In order to “stand still” we have to wait on firm footing with peace, patience, and hopeful anticipation. In the book of Numbers it also states that “her vows shall stand” (Numbers 30:4-7). This “stand” refers to withstanding the tests of time, lasting, sustaining. In 1 Chronicles we read “and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;” (‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭23‬:‭30‬). This is a daily stand we must make everyday. It’s a stand having to do with rising up and resting on a firm foundation. Our foundation is Jesus and we need to rise everyday to thank, praise, and rest on Him as our rock (Exodus 33:21). When we awaken, the first thing we should do is rise up and make a stand for our Savior, choosing Him, and taking up our cross and carrying it daily. 

For those who are down, it is time to get up and stand. For those who are anxious or impatient, stand and wait, standby. For those of us who are troubled, stand and rest. Be comforted by the revelation that Christ is the rock that we rest and build our foundation on. For those who are afraid, it is time to make a stand. Even while afraid, we must stand before our opposition and make our stand for Christ. For those of us who need the reminder, we must stand everyday and rest on our rock, our firm foundation that is Christ and what He did at the Cross. Remember, nowhere in the Bible are we permitted to quit or give up. It is our duty, our command to stand.