Above All
By Jack Wyman
An ominous apprehension gripped the British Isles like a descending fog.
In the face of great danger there seemed little hope.
Parliament was confused, dispirited and divided. No one knew what to do or how to do it.
From those historic and hallowed halls of ancient power, an eloquence rang out that challenged the evil forces of global darkness and dominion, and rallied the freedom-loving world. Every syllable was drenched in a fearless determination.
He was a 66-year-old has-been, exiled to a political wilderness years before by the courage of his convictions and the prescience of his insights.
When the once-noble banner of appeasement lay tattered in defeat on the ground of totalitarian aggression, he was summoned to lead a threatened and fearful nation. Anyone who believed in God knew God had raised him up for such an hour as this - the nation’s darkest hour.
Winston Churchill insisted that courage was the greatest virtue - the virtue that made all others possible.
In his leadership of Great Britain during World War II, Churchill demonstrated the truth of his assertion. It was his courage that marshalled and united the English people against the Nazi war machine.
It was his indomitable spirit that gave others hope in the face of nearly insurmountable odds. It was his unmatched eloquent oratory that inspired England and the world to rescue freedom and defeat evil.
Today, speechwriters, handlers and teleprompters, together with social media, sap the strength of moral leadership.
In 1963, when Churchill was conferred the distinction of honorary American citizenship by a grateful nation, President Kennedy, who well understood the power of words, quoted famed broadcaster Edward Murrow, who had said of the great statesman:
“He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.”
It was more than words, as mighty as they are. It was courage, confidence and determination. It was unalterable moral convictions. Churchill lived and led in an age when integrity and character mattered. At a time when the destinies of nations depended on the greatness of their leaders.
When Churchill met Franklin Roosevelt officially for the first time on the Atlantic Ocean in August 1941, one of the hymns he selected for the Sunday worship service was A Mighty Fortress. Sadly today, it’s a musty old hymn that most of our churches have forgotten.
Girded with a rich and powerful theology, the hymn summons us to stand heroically against “our ancient foe”, declaring that his “doom is sure.” It is a muscular tribute to spiritual warfare, the power of right and the final victory of Jesus Christ.
It is a majestic call to courage and perseverance.
“And though this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.”
When he wrote this hymn, Martin Luther had already laid his life on the line for the moral and spiritual reformation of the church and religion throughout the world.
Courage.
Are you afraid of the state of this world and the what the future holds? Are you afraid to stand by your convictions? Afraid of what others may think, or say, or do? Are you fearful of the next great happening? Do you worry? About money, security, health, coming catastrophe?
Are you tempted to give up and turn away? Are you apathetic and unconcerned? Do you think the end is near, so why bother?
Do you have a faith worth living, worth defending and worth passing on?
Or is it better to hide, wait and keep your fingers crossed?
Is our faith not worth proclaiming? Is our nation not worth saving? Our children not worth protecting? And teaching?
To live for Christ - no matter what - is the greatest goal of the truly satisfying life.
You and I must never raise the flag of surrender over the truth and blessings of God and the greatness of our country. We must realize that our battle as Christians is not political, cultural, or even moral. You and I are engaged in a great spiritual contest between the forces of Satan and the kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord.
God told Joshua to be courageous, because God would go with him and guide him, and protect him and his people. Throughout the history of the world, and the history of the church, courage has defined greatness and triumph. In our own land, the courage and stamina of countless men and women have secured for all our citizens the blessings of liberty and a more perfect union.
The American story is a story of hope and faithful Providence. It is a story of courage. We do not need to look very long or hard. Examples abound.
We see Washington at Valley Forge, praying for a winter miracle; our founders in Philadelphia, branded as traitors by the crown, creating a new nation; Lincoln at Gettysburg, affirming a new birth of freedom in the midst of America’s bloodiest war; TR advocating the strenuous life and moral leadership; and Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, defying the global oppression of an evil empire.
From our war for independence to the abolition of slavery; from our fearless triumph over global aggression to our advancement of civil rights, justice and individual opportunity - freedom’s march has been a march of courage.
Only courage will preserve America for our children and our children’s children. The courage of faith, of truth and the courage of love.
When Churchill visited Harrow School in England in October, 1941, the nation stood alone against the fearsome behemoth of The Third Reich.
Churchill admonished those callow youth:
“Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.”
Let this be our prayer.
Let this be our hope.
Let this be our resolve.
Courage.
Above all.
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