{"id":1460,"date":"2022-03-07T05:14:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T11:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/denisonforum\/2022\/03\/we-will-fight-to-the-last-breath-why-one-mans-courage-is-empowering-his-nation\/"},"modified":"2022-03-07T05:14:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T11:14:17","slug":"we-will-fight-to-the-last-breath-why-one-mans-courage-is-empowering-his-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/denisonforum\/2022\/03\/we-will-fight-to-the-last-breath-why-one-mans-courage-is-empowering-his-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe will fight to the last breath\u201d: Why one man\u2019s courage is empowering his nation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

There are an <\/span>estimated<\/span><\/a> 115,000 weddings per day around the world, but one that occurred yesterday is making <\/span>global headlines<\/span><\/a> this morning. Here\u2019s why: the bride wore fatigues, the groom wore a helmet, and the wedding party carried rifles and RPGs. Their wedding took place next to a military checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyiv\u2019s mayor attended the ceremony and noted that a week ago, the couple were \u201cnormal people\u201d with no plans to carry weapons. Now \u201cthey want to defend our city together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This courageous couple is simply following their president\u2019s example.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Andriy Yermak is head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine. He recently <\/span>wrote<\/span><\/a> an op-ed for the <\/span>New York Times<\/span><\/i> in which he stated, \u201cI am writing this appeal from a bunker in the capital, with President Volodymyr Zelensky by my side. For a week, Russian bombs have fallen overhead. Despite the constant barrage of Russian fire, we stand firm and united in our resolve to defeat the invaders. We will fight to the last breath to protect our country.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rep. John Garamendi, a senior member of the House of Representatives armed services committee, spoke with Mr. Zelensky on Saturday and <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> later, \u201cHe knows that he is at the top of the kill list, and he knows that his life is in jeopardy, but he has pushed that aside to lead this nation.\u201d Rep. Garamendi called him \u201can incredible man of courage and leadership.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe face of Ukrainian resilience\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

An article in the <\/span>New Yorker<\/span><\/i> by David Remnick is <\/span>headlined<\/span><\/a>, \u201cVolodymyr Zelensky leads the defense of Ukraine with his voice.\u201d Remnick describes Mr. Zelensky as having \u201cassumed the role of Winston Churchill.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Michael Blake, a political philosopher at the University of Washington, <\/span>notes<\/span><\/a> that \u201cwhatever happens in the coming weeks,\u201d the president \u201cwill go down as the face of Ukrainian resilience during the Russian invasion of his country.\u201d He contrasts Mr. Zelensky\u2019s everyman story with Vladimir Putin\u2019s carefully cultivated \u201cstrongman\u201d persona. In his opinion, Mr. Zelensky\u2019s appeal resides largely in \u201cthe most central lesson of democratic politics\u2014that our leaders are no better, morally speaking, than those they lead.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a Western secular sense, Dr. Blake is absolutely correct. America\u2019s founding document, for example, rejects the monarchy of our mother country for the assertion that \u201call men are created equal.\u201d There\u2019s a reason our presidential candidates appear at state fairs and town hall gatherings across the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When they succeed, we feel that we have all succeeded. If someone can do something, Americans think we can do it. This Western focus on the individual stands in contrast to the stratified cultural classes of Europe, the class-centric ideology of Marxism, the <\/span>caste system<\/span><\/a> that still exists in many ways in India, and the tsarist and emperor-driven historical narratives of Russia and China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Zelensky is especially emblematic of this anyone-can-be-someone ethos. I wrote a <\/span>biography<\/span><\/a> of him for our website last Friday in which I chronicled his unlikely rise from improvisational comedy, television, and movie roles to president of his nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStruggling with all his energy\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Offering the world a transformational example they can follow is a biblical model as well, but with an important caveat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul encouraged the Philippians, \u201cWhat you have learned and received and heard <\/span>and seen<\/span><\/i> in me\u2014practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you\u201d (Philippians 4:9, my emphasis). It was not enough for the apostle to have taught them what they should practice\u2014he showed them by his personal example that they could do so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But here\u2019s what makes the biblical leadership-by-example ethos different from the secular modeling Dr. Blake and others are celebrating with regard to Volodymyr Zelensky\u2019s courageous leadership: Christians know that the most powerful source of character and courage does not lie within us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul testified, \u201cFor this I toil, struggling <\/span>with all his energy<\/span><\/i> that he powerfully works within me\u201d (Colossians 1:29, my emphasis). He embraced his Father\u2019s assurance, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness\u201d (2 Corinthians 12:9) and could therefore state, \u201cI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me\u201d (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we work, God works. As God works, we work.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cThe founder and perfecter of our faith\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The writer of Hebrews 12 captured this balance perfectly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, he reminded us that \u201cwe are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses\u201d and encouraged us to emulate them: \u201cLet us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us\u201d (v. 1).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, he showed us the power to run our race: \u201clooking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God\u201d (v. 2).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When we remember what others have done in the power of Christ, we are encouraged to emulate them by making their Source ours and finding in Jesus the strength and hope we need. Then others will follow our example by trusting our Lord as theirs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing that tells in the long run\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

As we intercede for Mr. Zelensky, Mr. Yermak, and other courageous Ukrainians, let\u2019s pray not only for their courage, protection, and perseverance. Let\u2019s also pray for God to redeem their suffering by leading them to Jesus and the source of strength they need most.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then let\u2019s pray the same for ourselves. I often warn myself and others that self-sufficiency is spiritual suicide. Our greatest need as Christians is to be empowered and transformed every day by Christ (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 5:18).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oswald Chambers was <\/span>right<\/span><\/a>: \u201cThe thing that tells in the long run for God and for men is the steady persevering work in the unseen, and the only way to keep the life uncrushed is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are your eyes open to him today?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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