QUIT COWERING IN THE CORNER: Open Your Mouth and Speak The Truth
My words have gotten me in a lot of trouble over the years. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that much of the conflict that comes my way would not have collided with me if I had simply kept my thoughts to myself.
“Just keep your mouth shut, Coach.” I’ve had that advice given to me more than once. “Why do you always seem to be looking for trouble? Why are you so intent on making sure everyone knows what you think about a particular subject? Live and let live. Life is too short. Just sit back and stop worry about saving the world.”
I have to admit that the thought is tempting. I often hover over my keyboard and ask myself if I really what to type what is running through my head. Life would be much less rocky if I just took the advice of my buddy and simply kept my mouth shut.
But I can’t. I can’t live like that. I can’t cower in the corner while the world I am leaving to my grandchildren grows darker and darker. Call me naive but I actually believe that if I am willing to take a few arrows for pointing out where we have gone wrong, there might actually be a chance that things could turn around for my progeny.
Pollyanic, I know. But to me silence means agreement; consent. I’ll be darned if I am going to stand around with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth while all things sacred are under attack.
We have it backwards here in America. Proverbs 28:1 tells us that “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” The unrighteous tongues are fearless in their wagging and it is the righteous that are shrinking from the responsibility of being salt and light to a confounded, confused, and deluded world.
It’s time for more of us to open our mouths…while there is still time. As a mentor of mine once told me, silence isn’t golden…it’s yellow. Why are men so unwilling to stand up and speak?
I hear from them all of the time; men and women who moan and groan about the condition of things in the world but never really do anything but moan and groan. It reminds me of the Scripture “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” (Proverbs 29:2)
There sure seems to be a lot of mourning going on today.
Dang, the devil’s kids are bold. There seems to be nothing that they won’t say or do. In fact, their boldness has eroded away nearly every standard of right and wrong in this nation.
People often fail to do the RIGHT thing because no one ever points out the WRONG thing. Political correctness has banished the Truth into the closet where its light is trapped. Jesus labeled us “salt and light” to the world. In fact, He instructed us to let our light so shine BEFORE men that they will see our good works…
Light, if it is locked in a container, is no more illuminating than darkness. As hard as this may be to understand, light often shines through words. Speaking Truth brings light to the world. Men see it and it’s a stark contrast when compared to the darkness.
But the Bible tells us that men love darkness because their deeds are evil. Remaining silent in the face of evil permits the darkness to remain. Watch what a man does and you will soon understand what he believes. Action explodes “this little light of mine” into a blinding beam of illumination.
Most times, words are the conduit through which the illumination flows.
If you are like most people you often find yourself in a situation where the light of Truth needs to be shined, and words are the only way to do it. Maybe it’s a meeting with a group of friends or a discussion with your co-workers. Perhaps it’s even a situation at your church. You see something happening that is wrong and you know that somebody needs to speak up. But you don’t. You let the lie, or the immorality, or the bad advice go unchallenged and you feel like kicking yourself when you get home. “I should have said something,” you lament later on. You kept the light locked in the closet.
That is where most people live…in the fear of being criticized by others for speaking what you believe. I used to feel that way until I read this in the Bible.
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:18-20)
Has it ever dawned on you that the Lord wants to use you as an ambassador of Truth?
I saw today that Kim Davis caught the attention of the Pope. I wonder if when this whole marriage mess broke loose in her life if she ever imagined that her words would be heard around the world. Did she sit down with her husband and strategize as to what she might say or how she should best get the attention of the media?
I have no first-hand knowledge, but my experience tells me that she probably simply showed up, opened her mouth, and let the Lord speak. Today, governors, and kings, and even Popes witnessed the radiant beams of light that emanated from her lips.
What about you? What is keeping you locked in your closet? What is keeping YOUR lips sealed when the Lord has prompted you to speak? What are you afraid of? The Lord needs you. He wants to speak THROUGH you. Time is running short.
For God’s sake, open your mouth.
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