Taking a stand – come what may refers to the unwavering commitment of individuals to uphold their beliefs and values, despite
challenges or opposition, and their willingness to face whatever consequences for their beliefs.

There are so many excellent examples of men and women in the Bible, who by their steadfast commitment to Yahweh encourage us to do the same.

One woman that I was amazed by was Esther. She became a queen, and being a Jew, risked her life after confrontation by her Uncle Mordecai. She took a stand facing danger and death to save the Jewish people.

Esther 2:5-7, 17, 20. Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimel, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah the king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled. He was bringing up Hadassah,
that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Esther had not yet made known her kindred or her people, even as Mordecai
had commanded her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her as she had done when under his care.

Here she was, taken as a captive, an exile who had been brought up by a loving uncle. Amazingly, she was taken to King Ahasuerus, and he made her his queen. Time passes, and an evil man by the name of Haman hated the Jews. He devised a plot against the Jews and convinced the king to go along with it. Haman did not know that Queen Esther was a Jew. Mordecai, through Hathach (the king’s eunuch), sent him to Esther with a copy of the letters and wanted her to go to the king and stop this evil plan.

Esther 3:13; 4:9-17. Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder. Hathach came back and related Mordecai’s words to Esther. Then
Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai: “All the King’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not
been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” They related Esther’s words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I, and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went out and did all that Esther commanded him.

Esther was scared, but she fasted and prayed and asked all the Jews to fast and pray for three days. She got to the point that she was going to take a stand and, knowing the cost to her, went into the inner court. The king held out his golden scepter to her, and Esther was given an audience with the king. The result was that the evil plot that Haman wanted to carry out against the Jews was thwarted, and Haman and his sons were all hanged. Esther took a stand and saved the Jewish people from annihilation. She knew the cost but acted anyway! What an amazing woman!

There is another record of three courageous young men, who took a stand for Yahweh and were delivered. It’s the record of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were taken captive, along with Daniel and the rest of the Jews and were living in a foreign land. Even their names had been changed. But they loved and worshipped the one true God in spite of their captors and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. After Daniel relayed the king’s dream, which none of his wise men could do, the king promoted Daniel and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel requested to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be placed over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s court (Daniel 2:46-49).

The King made an image of gold and set it up on the plain of Dura and ordered all the rulers to come to the dedication of the image of gold. Whenever they heard the music, everyone of them was to fall down and worship the golden image. If they didn’t fall down and worship the image, they were to be thrown into a fiery furnace. The decree of the king was sent out. Also at that time, there were certain Chaldeans who hated the Jews and wanted to bring charges against them.

Daniel 3:8, 12-18. For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden
image which you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzer in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, then these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzer responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzer, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king, But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted that Yahweh would deliver them, but even if He didn’t, they still wouldn’t bow. They
would rather die than bow down to any false gods. They were actually thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace. God did deliver them that not even their hair was singed nor the smell of smoke was on them. God did indeed deliver them, and even King Nebuchadnezzer bowed down to the one true God, Yahweh. Talk about taking a stand! Both Esther and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego risked their lives to stand for the one true God and His people.

How about you and me? You know, I have never been in the situation that my life depended on my stand for God. I pray that I don’t have to face the conditions of what Esther, Shadach, Meschach, and Abednego faced. Even now, in other countries around the world, there are people who are facing that extreme. They are not allowed to worship the One True God openly.

Living here in the United States, we have the freedom to worship as we choose. But, have you ever been ridiculed, or mocked for your belief in God and His Word? I have by my so-called friends when I stopped going to the church and went to a fellowship in someone’s home. Have you ever had to stand for God, our Lord Jesus, and this gospel of truth? You see we can’t be ashamed of this great gospel of deliverance nor fold at foolish people’s disparaging words. God has given us everything, including His Beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus. He gave his life for all of mankind. We have been set apart and have our hope waiting for us—eternal life! We have God’s blessings and strength here and now, and Yahweh has equipped us
with every spiritual blessing. We lack nothing! We have His promises, His blessings, His strength and might! We have God in Christ in us! We have the gift of holy spirit; we are Yahweh’s children. He is within us, and we are never alone. No matter what happens around us, whatever challenge we face, we do it with Him!

Yahweh commands us to stand for Him! He has given us armor so we are not defenseless. I love the book of Ephesians, and God lays out our armor so we can stand against the schemes of the devil. So we can stand in this evil world.

Ephesians 6:10-18. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all the saints.

1 Corinthians 15:57, 58. but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

In a world where we are surrounded by unbelief, ridicule, and evil; take a STAND for God and be counted with the righteous!

There is a song that I love by The Newsboys Band called “Stand.” I want to share some of the lyrics with you. I believe this song is very inspiring.

When trouble comes my way, will I live the way I
believe when I’m backed up against the wall?
So what kind of person do I wanna be? Am I
committed to You or am I committed to me? What will
I choose the second everything falls?
And stand up for the One who gave everything. Stand
up because You deserve all of me!
I won’t give up, I won’t give in, even if it takes all I am.
I’m gonna stand in a world that’s breaking, stand for
a truth unchanging. I’m not ashamed,
I’ve considered the cost, I’ll stay right here at the foot
of the cross and STAND!

Consider all that our Loving Father has done for us and has provided for us. Yahweh deserves our love, loyalty, and faithfulness. Are you ready to stand each and every day for our Father, no matter the cost?

Revelation 21:6. Then He said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of water of life without cost.

We have eternal life waiting for us. Take a stand today, share the gospel to people who don’t know about our Father. Don’t worry about what foolish people may say. Be proud! Are you going to stand and believe God’s Word when everything goes crazy around you, when your own back is against the wall; is God your sufficiency in all things? Are you committed to Yahweh or yourself?