The following was taken, in part, from Lesson 1234, Series no. 376, 92 Spiritual Dynamics,
the tape dated 2/11/98; Matt 10:29,31 & 2Cor 4:6-9, R.B. Thieme Jr, Bible
Ministries
The pertinent principles:
"Adversity is what life does to you; Stress is what you do to yourself"
And;
"Adversity is inevitable; Stress is optional"
My pastor likes to recall, on occasions where the analogy fits, a friend of his from the WWII years, Phamacist's Mate
Mark Shannon, from Mule Shoe, Texas. Mark was attached to the 1st Marine Division and was in the attack on Guadalcanal.
The unit Mark was part of were detailed to dig in on a jutting spur of high ground at one end of the island.
At the end of their first day the Japanese, steaming down the "slot", hit them with a horrendous barrage of naval gunfire.
Their position was plunged into an inferno, tossed and bucking under the intense bombardment. Shannon, as he dove for his
foxhole, happened to catch a glimpse of a bird, perched on a scorched log just feet away.
The first salvo lasted what seemed an eternity, and the Japs turned and started on a second run. In the
ten minutes of silence that elapsed, Mark Shannon peeked over the edge of his trench, and there, seemingly unconcerned by
the events of the moment, was the bird. He hadn't moved, nor had one feather been ruffled by the tons of high explosives the
Japanese had hurled at them.
Suddenly, a memory of years before came to Shannon; An evengelist had visited Mule Shoe, and one of the songs his choir
sang, which was also the verse he emphasized in his sermon, was Matt 10:29;
"Are not two sparrows sold for a [penny]? And one of them shall not fall to the ground
[apart from your Father's concern]. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matt 10:29,31)
In his ears, as he crouched there, were the raucous cries of many wounded Marines. He knew that without help, many of them would
bleed to death before he could get to them.
Shannon, inspired by his memory, the timing of it, and goaded by the screams of his commrads, rose and sprang from his
sanctuary just as the shelling recommenced, this time even more terrible than before. He ran through the vortex of flame
and deafening explosions to the plasma some two hundred endless yards down the hill. Many times the convulsions of the
barren hillside he ran across knocked him to the ground, but he regained his feet and continued his mission.
Carrying all the plasma he could, while the chaos erupted all around him, Shannon returned to his unit's position
and went from trench to trench, administering aid to the striken Marines. He saved the lives of dozens of men that
day.
For his actions that evening he was awarded the Silver Star, though he had been cited for the Navy Cross, but to a man,
his officers and those that witnessed his daring courage, insisted that Mark had earned a Medal of Honor is anyone ever had.
This illustration is perfect for the purpose of focusing on the daily circustances of adversity that befall us, and the
divine solution that is at our fingertips. Just as Shannon had trotted this one principle out at the right time, we are
also given recall by the Holy Spirit, and all the accompanying necessities, to rise to the occasion, whatever the nature
of our problems.
God has provided us a wall of fire, an impenetratable fortress, which is impervious to the adverse circumstances of life
when we utilize it as He directs. To this purpose, God the Holy Spirit summons those pertinent doctrines which we have learned
from memory and launches them from the "launch pad" of our soul (frame of reference + positive volition + execution), thus
turning aside the temptation to sucuum.
Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemene, demonstrated this principle admirably, and we can draw from His use of this principle,
for His actions, and the thoughts that sponsored them, are the essence of "The Mind of Christ", that sipiritual dynamic,
quickened by the Holy Spirit, which has the power to work for us also. And it does! Just as Mark Shannon used it over 50
years ago under circumstances far more extreme than most of us will ever face.
Just as He delivered Mark in those dire moments, and enabled him to maintain his poise under terrible pressure, He will
come to our aid as the situation demands. The key to our spiritual life, in these and every other situation of life, is
the presence of doctrine in the soul, The ministry of God The Holy Spirit, and our positive volition at the time when His
help is needed.
Consider Christ, kneeling in Gethsemene, under far worse pressure than even Mark Shannon. He was accutely aware that soon,
within days, He would die for the sins of mankind. We cannot identify, truly know, the horrible images that flew across our
Lord's mind, the weight of omniscience that passed from The Son, His diety, to Jesus, His human nature. Jesus knew the horror
that awaited Him, yet He bore this burden with poise and unshakable resolve.
"...not my will, but thine be done..."
These are words spoken to God The Father that Christ knew would echo down the centuries to us. We, too, must aquire this
extraordinary courage, but not of ourselves....for it is God that provides it. We are far less than these occasions demand
of us, but by His grace we will rise and spring into the fray, confident, calm, secure in the knowledge that God is our
fortress under the worst possible conditions.
And there is more to this excellent analogy; There is something called "the witness of the life" in the Christian life.
Some people, those that observe a Christian under such circumstances, are so awed by their unflappable composure, in
circumstances that they, themselves, are intimidated by, they are led to the gospel, on some ocasssions, and to doctrine
on others. Words do not always have the impact we intend, for it is impossible to pass along the power of God's minsitry
in us in word alone. It takes more than conversation to open the eyes of some, and God will provide the inspiration as
needed, provided a Christian with the doctrine in his soul, and filled with The Holy Spirit, is at hand.
Such is the nature of our mission in this life, to make ourselves available as the instruments of God that His will
can be done on earth, through us. This preparedness, the wherewithall to meet the challenge of adversity, is not a
hapstance, a coincidence. It is the consistent exposure to God's Word, under the ministry of a pastor with the spiritual
gift of communication, and the mentorship of God The Holy Spirit, that prepares us to become greater than our human nature
is capable of, and "stand in the gap" when others are cowering in fear.
Yet another principle can be distilled from Mr. Shannon's courageous exploits; The concept of eternal rewards. The distinction
here is that God, in contrast to a stingy U.S. Governement, does not stint when the time comes for acknowledgement of our
exemplary performance in this life. Please note that we are but the "stylus", the engraving tool, of the Master Engraver.
And if we are found with the doctrine, and the right attitude as the moment demands, He will give us The Crown of Life
when we face our Lord at His evaualtion throne. Those rewards will not be the scant offering that Mark receieved, however,
but blessings that will be ours forever.
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