By Jack Wyman

The old men sat on the steps of the general store.

One whittled a piece of wood.

Their rugged faces were creased, their eyes squinted into the setting sun, and their beards were full and thick.

“Andy’s quite the old boy,” one of the men drawled. “Sure is,” said the other.

“Remember when he wrestled? We were all just young fellas having fun. Andy was skinny but he was wiry. Jim Brown lived just down the road. He was a bigger and stronger boy. He’d throw Andy three out of four times.”

“How was that?” the other man asked. “I always thought it was the best of three.”

“It usually was,” came the reply. “But Andy wouldn’t stay throwed. He’d always challenge big Jim to a fourth match. Jim would be tired but Andy just wouldn’t give in. He wouldn’t stay beat. He wanted that final re-match. Then Andy would throw Jim and win.”

“Yep, that old Andy was a scrappy cuss. You couldn’t stop him. He just kept coming back for more. Andy might be down but he never stayed down.”

Ever been “throwed?” It’s no fun, nor is it easy. You and I, if we’re like most, have been in a time and place in our lives that was tough. It’s when the world begins to close in and the circumstances of life take a hard and dark turn.

We feel like giving up.

We’re discouraged, perhaps even desperate. We feel trapped. What do we do? Where do we go? How do we decide? How do we know?

His sons imperiled and their lives threatened, Jacob cried in fearful exasperation, “all these things are against me!” (Genesis 42:36). We’re in a tunnel and we fear the light at the end may be an oncoming train.

As Christians, we all face the world, the flesh, and the devil. Every single day. We struggle as fallen creatures living in a fallen world. A world that allures, mocks, and deceives—all at the same time.

In most Bible dictionaries, the word “persecution” is listed just before the word “perseverance.” Perhaps that’s a message for us.

In his second letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul spoke of his difficulties and sufferings. The light of Christ was still shining in his heart, he said, “but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars holding within us this great treasure, “ (2 Corinthians 4:7). The strength and courage to endure came not from themselves, Paul said, it came from the power of God.

And so it is. And so it does.

Pressed by troubles on all sides, Paul still declared, “but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed,” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Paul and his fellow followers of Jesus Christ may have often been down but they were never out. They may have been down but they did not stay down. They may have been “throwed” but they did not remain “throwed.” They struggled back to their feet. They looked ahead and they pressed on. No matter what it took, they never gave up.

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, ” (Proverbs 24:16).

These steadfast disciples suffered but they were never conquered. They stood before the world bloodied but unbeaten. Assailed but unashamed. “We live in constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, ” Paul acknowledged. But though threatened, they were fearless.

By the grace and power of God, they triumphed.

From this extraordinary faith and courage; this determination and perseverance against all odds and every earthly power, the Church of Jesus Christ was built into the greatest force for good the world has ever known.

You and I are not here in this time and place by some random lot cast by an indifferent heaven. We are here, as were our spiritual ancestors, according to the providence of an almighty God. We are here that we might continue in the faith of our fathers, resolved to honor Christ, stand for truth, and to be salt and light in a dark and struggling world of pain and suffering.

No matter the opposition. No matter public opinion. No matter the cost. As they were brave, so must you and I be brave. As they pressed on, so must we, in the ongoing struggle between good and evil.

Andy had his own struggles and they were not easy. His father died shortly before Andy was born into near poverty. He fought bravely in war at 13, his arm slashed by an enemy soldier. The next year, when he was 14, Andy was orphaned—the only survivor of his immediate family.

Andy was educated by local ministers. By the time he was 17, he was studying to be a lawyer. He rose to become a public prosecutor. Andy didn’t complain. He didn’t become bitter. He didn’t blame others. And he didn’t stop.

Andy didn’t stay throwed. He pressed on with a tireless perseverance and unquenchable ambition. Entering the military, Andy was a fearless soldier and leader of men. He soon became a revered and valiant hero in war. He gained a national reputation.

You know him. You’ve seen him. His noble image has graced the twenty-dollar bill since 1928. Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812, served as the seventh president of the United States for eight tumultuous years. He was the courageous and outspoken champion of the people; their voice during years of profound American change and growth.

Jackson wasn’t perfect, but he was beloved by millions. He bravely stood up to obstacles and opposition. So must we.

God has defeated Satan at the cross. Jesus Christ has triumphed over sin and death at the grave. Our eternal inheritance in heaven has been secured.

We have nothing to fear and everything to look forward to. There’s not one good reason why you and I shouldn’t persevere.

Let’s keep on keeping on. If you get throwed, get up.

Andy did.

To order Jack Wyman’s book, “Everything Else: Stories of Life, Faith and Our World”, go to amazon.com, Christian Book Distributors or barnesandnoble.com. It is also available on Kindle and eBooks.

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