since we are surrounded . . . let us run with endurance

On Monday afternoon I watched Amazing Grace for the second time.

For those who haven't seen it yet [You should. And if the only time you've seen it is at the C&C movie night last November, it deserves another watching.], it tells part of the story of William Wilberforce's fight to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain.

What hit me again and again throughout the movie is that we see William Wilberforce through the lens of his eventual victory. During much of his struggle, though, William Wilberforce saw himself as someone who was given a particular task, and who was failing miserably. His seemingly radical positions invited scorn from older, more-respected men in his profession, and for many years it seemed like there wasn't a way to change the status quo. His victory in the end was only the result of doing the right thing small choice by small choice, day in and day out.

Thinking about Wilberforce reminded me of 4th century church leader Athanasius, whom we remember for his victory over the Arian heresy. Athanasius had the unpleasant task of fighting other leaders of the early Christian church to defend the truths of the incarnation, the complete deity of Christ, and the Trinity. It sounds impressive to repeat "Athanasius contra mundum" (Athanasius against the world), but only because his side prevailed. Being banished, ostracized, and downright hated -- being, literally, "against the world" (even against people you respect and who used to respect you) -- would be an unpleasant day-to-day reality. His victory in the end was only the result of doing the right thing small choice by small choice, day in and day out.

What makes these men so great?

I'm sure that lots of characteristics could be listed, but two that stand out to me are faith and endurance.

Faith is believing that God is who He says He is, and that what He says is right is right and what He says is wrong is wrong. Both Athanasius and William Wilberforce staked their alls on truths from God's Word. For Athanasius, it was the truth that Jesus Christ was fully God, God come to earth as man. For William Wilberforce, it was the truth that man is created in God's image and a human soul cannot be human property. If what God said about those things was true, then popularity, comfort, and even good health were a small sacrifice in the battle for their defense. No fear of men or desire for their approval could detract from a true belief that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Endurance for these men was the strength to keep going toward the goal even when all odds were against them. It was the strength to choose God's best over the advice of well-meaning friends. It was the strength to wake up every morning, forget the seeming losses of the day before, and keep on going. It was the strength to stand up in front of a group of well-respected, well-supported, well-educated men -- many older and more experienced -- and once again make the argument that had drawn their anger and scorn time and time again.

Athanasius and Wilberforce are truly great men, but they are not members of some unattainable group of heroes.

Even in our C&C group, there are some big dreams. If your dream is born from an actual calling of God (John Piper calls this a "holy ambition"), it is not unattainable. That's not to say that there won't be some slip-ups and slumps between now and the finish line. And, even if you make a lot of progress towards that dream, it may be that your particular race is only one leg of a relay that someone else will finish later.

What are your goals, the needs that call out to you when you look at the world? What does God's Word tell us about those things? What kind of sacrifice is too big in fighting for them? Are we willing to do the right thing small choice by small choice, day in and day out, day after day after day after day after day?

Whose life story do you look to for encouragement in fulfilling your calling?