Today I was wrapping up my lesson for my Adult Bible Fellowship (Sunday School) class tomorrow on the importance of men taking action to do the things God calls them to do. I think one of the reasons that men don't act when they need to is simply because they aren't prepared. We'll get presented with something and we'll freeze up like a deer in the headlights. Which got me thinking...
How funny would it be to have a video of a "Deer Headlight Training Camp?" There's some sort of seasoned buck explaining to young deer about the hazards of automobiles, complete with practice sessions where the students have to move across a road and bolt the rest of the way instead of freezing when a spotlight is turned on them. It would be quite humorous...or not...(okay, no more funnies for me for the week...)
But at the same time, I have participated in exercises of a similar nature during my time in the Navy. One of my favorite lines describing a common goal when underway is that we want to "keep the water out of the people tank and the people out of the water tank." The first refers to a damage control environment and the latter refers to having a Sailor fall overboard, both of which I have personally been involved with (no, I wasn't the one who fell overboard). Both of these scenarios are also ones that I have rehearsed from a variety of angles, both in discussion and in walkthroughs, more times than I can count. But then again, that is fitting because if you fail to plan you are planning to fail...and if we don't act promptly or correctly someone literally could get killed.
And so we run drill after drill after drill and we discuss what was done correctly and what needs to be improved next time. Some parts are so critical that they are reviewed and rehearsed until they are automatic. And when something was actually on fire or we had flooding in a space or one of our Sailors fell overboard we did exactly what we needed to do.
Why don't Christians do the same thing? Despite efforts to avoid situations for which we might not be fully ready, the day comes when challenges will arise that require our action. Our integrity may be challenged. Our children (someday for some of us) may challenge our authority. We may inadvertently find ourselves in a potentially compromising position with someone of the opposite gender. We might be face with having to defend our faith. While we may never encounter some of these situations, or we may be dealing with them on a regular basis, the day will come when the unexpected comes up. And while we may not know the specifics of what to expect, there is still some room for general preparations that will equip us to act promptly and appropriately.
The apostle Peter knew that this was a reality that the early Christians faced and so he gave this guidance:
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." (1 Peter 3:13-16)
In this case Peter is addressing those that would suffer for their faith and he gives them practical advice for how to be prepared before that day may come. Specifically:
1. Recognizing the truth surrounding the situation. In the context of eternity, who could harm the one who walks a path of righteousness? And even if they try, it will be to the saint's credit. So what is there to fear or be troubled about? When faced with a challenge, it is easy for it to appear bigger, more daunting, harder, or more unpleasant than it really is. Not to mention that any time the "father of lies" is involved there is by default going to be an effort to distort the perception of what is going on. Anticipating and having a solid grounding in the truth allows a proper perspective to be maintained. In this situation - "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
2. Maintaining a right heart. In particular one that is focused on and in tune with Christ. As a Christian grows in the knowledge and image of Christ, their actions will follow. When that happens there is no need to ask "What Would Jesus Do?" because the answer is already known.
3. Prepare for likely possible outcomes. It is impossible to plan and be prepared for every possible contingency that may be encountered, but there are times when a simple exercise in walking scenarios out to potential conclusions can give an idea about what has a probability of occurring. Based on that, general preparations can be made. Here Peter anticipates that the Christian that takes a right initial approach to wrongful sufferings will be a curiosity to others who will then ask where the Christian gains the hope they display.
Now in reality there is no way to ever be prepared for every possible contingency that life will bring our way. But leaning on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, to train us in righteousness, and lead us as we grow to be more like Christ we can be ready to rise to the challenges of life. Yet in it all we must remain mindful of our hearts, lest we inadvertently allow efforts toward preparedness to result in pride and a lack of dependence on the faithfulness of God to lead and guide his children in the hour of their challenge.
"When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:19-20)
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