Going Into Battle

Back in my wilder days, (the ones I'm not so proud of), I did some crazy things. Stupid things. Dangerous things. Like the time when I was in college and stood up to a couple of drunk bikers. Here's what happened.

I was hanging out with a bunch of friends, (doing a bunch of things we shouldn't have been doing), when a couple of guys showed up on their bikes. We were all a bunch of young cowboys and were friendly enough to let them hang out with us for a bit, but the longer they were there, the meaner they got.

My little brother, who was only about 15, had arrived shortly before the bikers showed up. He was wearing a certain button on his suspenders, (yes it was in the days of Mork and Mindy for those of you who know what I'm talking about!), and one of the bikers decided he wanted that pin. He told my brother to give it to him.

My brother told him no.

He told him again to give it to him.

My brother, (he is stubborn this way), told him no.

I watched as the biker started walking toward my brother and my brother started backing up, eventually backing into a light pole and the biker had him pinned. I watched as the biker pulled his belt from the bottom of his leather jacket and swung it at my brother's head. And then I could watch no more.

I walked over and stepped in between the biker and my little brother. I told the man, "He said no."

Now I know this sounds brave, but I was shaking in my boots! I'm not much of a fighter, and I knew that I was probably going to bet the tar beat out of me, but I couldn't stand by and watch my little brother get the tar beat out of him, especially if it wasn't me doing the beating. But I also had something else on my side that gave me the bravery to step up.

I had a friend. (I'm not going to give his name so as to protect his identity and I'm not sure the statute of limitations is up on some of the other things we did in those days!)

As I was standing up to the biker, he was over at his pickup arming the rest of our friends. He was handing out night clubs, slap jacks, sticks and other things that could deter a mad biker.

Before I knew it I was surrounded by a small army of college kids ready to protect me and my little brother. And it all started with my friend.

Psalm 54 says, "Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life- men without regard for God." Since that night with the biker, I have felt attacked this same way many times. Sometimes it was actual people attacking me, sometimes it was a spiritual attack. But in all those attacks I have learned that I am not alone. David, the writer of Psalm 54, also wrote Psalm 24 which says, "Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

If you ever see injustice, if you are ever being attacked, if you ever find yourself in battle against great odds, just remember, you have a friend! And this friend is mighty in battle!

By the way, my friend became a police officer and I became a preacher. Does God have a sense of humor or what?!?