Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.— Psalm 37:1-2
Athanasius, the well-known bishop of early Christianity, stoutly opposed the teachings of Arius, who declared that Christ was not the eternal Son of God, but a subordinate being. Unfortunately, the Roman Emperor Theodosius sided with Arius in the debate, which landed Athanasius in exile five times.
He was finally summoned one day before the Emperor, who demanded he cease his opposition to Arius once and for all. He asked the weary bishop, “Do you not realize the whole world is against you?” Athanasius quickly answered, “Then I am against the whole world.”
Today, Arius’ way of thinking has been exposed for the false teaching it is, and Athanasius has been vindicated in the eyes of the Christian world. But in order to get there, he had to remain firm in the face of opposition and stand for what he knew was true.
Commitment to what you believe will very often lead to rejection by the world. This is especially true in the Christian faith. But if you will stand firm on the foundation of Christ and not be shaken by the winds of the world, you can be sure you’ll receive your vindication when the truth comes to light and every knee bows before Jesus Christ!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would give you the strength to stand firm in your faith when others oppose you.
Questions for thought
Can you think of a time when you stood for something when others were against you, but then you were proven right? How did that make you feel?
How can focusing on your ultimate vindication in front of the world give you the strength to stand strong today?