What does it mean to have a backbone?
One day, there was a fire in a 12-story highrise building and not too far was the facility for training firefighters. The alarm sounded and off the rookies went. The chief decided to let the trainees go to the burning building to see if they had what it takes since the call said that the fire wasn’t big. When the trainees got there, they got their equipment ready and went straight into the building. There were 15 rookie firefighters, 2 couldn’t make it to the 12th floor and came back down.
When the rest of the trainees got to the top, 2 of them turned on the firehose and suddenly part of the roof started to fall by them. The fire got real big and it seemed to them like the fire started circling around them. When the two guys holding the firehose looked back, all 11 of their colleagues in training ran down, away from the fire for fear of dying.
In the end, only 2 trainees had the backbone to stay and face the fire head-on.
Almost all Christians claim that they will defend the Scriptures, but when they are found in a situation to uphold what’s in the Word of God not many will be left for fear of the crowd giving them a backlash.
John 6:60-68
60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?”
61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?
62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him.
Joh 6:65 He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”
Joh 6:66 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?”
Joh 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
We must preach the truth in season and out of season without compromise.
Insight: Backbone
A spine that holds the body up. Spiritually, a Christian who is trusting in God’s Word to hold his faith up.
Spiritual Minefield 