It is located in Tennessee, on the Mississippi-Tennesee state line, and it is name "McNary County". Many, if not all, will recognize this county by reputation and story if not by name. In the early 1960’s the area around the state line had become an area of ill-repute. The story is told that either the sheriff was afraid of the organization or that he had been bribed to overlook the illegal activities. In 1964 – a new sheriff was elected. A former Marine, former wrestler, Buford Pusser was a force to be reckoned with. Over the next 6-8 years, he set out to clean up his home (county) which he dearly loved. Several movies were made of his actions and activities as he sought to clean up the illegal and immoral activities. Most of us remember the title, “WALKING TALL.” The mantra of Buford Pusser was “Walk Tall” and carry a big stick.
I submit that “walking tall” is a term used for anyone who goes against the grain, the tide of the society, and seeks to make a difference. We can find, read, and understand the many people in scripture who walked tall. Some of these would be; Elijah, Daniel, Post-Pentecost Peter, Paul, Stephen, and the list goes on.
Today, our culture begs for people to “Walk Tall”, to stand for “truth” and “right” and to stand against evil and wrong. Will you be one? It takes no effort to go with the “flow”.
This past week, God was in the house. Bro. Wayne, Bro. Todd and Alicia – invited us to be “renewed in our spirits, our hearts, and our lives.”
This is now the time for our testing. Will we walk tall? Can we walk tall? HOW? Let’s Read our Text today.
Question is: HOW do we walk tall? What do we do to walk tall? Submit the text gives some instructions. It we are to walk tall there are some things we need to KNOW. Be Reminded that, in 1 John, John uses the word “KNOW” over 30 times.
1) KNOW THE TIMES – We are not talking about your clocks, watches, cellphones, or computers. We are talking about the “times”, the ages, the culture in which we live.
a) Historically, we live in the age of “enlightenment”, the age of ”information”, the age of “communication.” Consider that in the 1990’s for the first time we watch a war on television “as it happened.” Who would have even considered this possibility in days past. Yet, with this increased connection and communication comes increased responsibility. Why is this? Because of the increase of temptation and sin which accompanies this.
b) Biblically -
i) "The last time" (or "the last hour") is a term that reminds us that a new age has dawned on the world. "The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth" (1 John 2:8). ii) Since the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christ, God is doing a "new thing" in this world. All of Old Testament history prepared the way for the work of Christ on the cross, All history since that time is merely preparation for the return of Jesus. There is nothing more that God must do for the salvation of sinners.
c) Personally – The Bibles says, “today is your day of decision, now is the time to be saved”. Maybe you have invited Christ into your life and know Him in a personal way. Could it be that the next step is beginning the trek of “walking tall” for Him. I am reminded of Joshua as he was passing off the scene. His famous challenge to the people of God still rings true today. “Choose you this day whom you will serve” needs to be the clarion cry for the believers today. In 2 Chronicles 16:9 we read, “the eyes of the Lord range through out the earth..” God is still looking for people to walk tall. He probably needs more “walkers” than “talkers”. Many will attend a service like this and give all the correct, pat, “Sunday School” answers to important questions, but never really give their lives to what their lips are saying.
i) Today it is Time for you to “surrender” to Christ. Yes, that sounds like a “giving up”, waving the white flag of surrender because most of us have the stubborn, prideful part of our lives which does not want to give up so easily.
ii) Today is also a Time for you to “sell out” to Christ. Remember the only man who can’t be bought is one who has already been sold. Most of us sell out to something. We sell out to our vocation, our family, our possession, our prestige, but Jesus calls us to sell out to Him. He teaches us that, “no one can serve two masters.”
iii) Today is also a Time for you to “stand up” for Christ. This may be the most misunderstood part of the gospel message. The best way for the true believer to stand for Jesus is not necessarily take a placard to the steps of the White House and announce we are taking back this country for Jesus. Quite likely, the more effective way is to “daily” let our lights shine with the gospel of Christ wherever we go, work, live, eat, play, run, or reside. It is the let our world hear our lives so that we can be heard when we speak.
In Ephesians, Paul writes, the “days are evil”, if the days were evil in Paul’s day, wonder what his assessment of today would be? Do you know what time it is today?
The rock band, Chicago, broke onto the music scene during my high school years with this song;
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Does anybody really care?
If so I can’t imagine why
We’ve all got time enough to cry
Do you know what the time is?
2) KNOW THE TROUBLE – the text gives us 3 sources of trouble (and they’re all people – possibly Baptists). They are;
a) The Deceivers – V26 - They come to “seduce” God’s people. The word seduce carries the connotation of “to roam from safety, truth, or virtue, or maybe to err. John was concerned about those who would mislead us, and mislead us “ON PURPOSE”. If you are one of those who are “trying” to walk tall, understand that there are those who desire to pull us down. Jude gives us a great picture of this. Read Jude 4ff
b) The Deserters –v 18-19 These are the who started the journey and walked away. In our affectionate way of viewing believers, Christians, and Christianity, on occasion, we tend to avoid the truths of the Bible. In our text, John brings light to bear on this situation, and it is a sobering thought. We tend to think that the folks who leave the fellowship and stop being a part of “any” body of Christ as “backslidden Christians”, yet John says, “they were never a part of us cause if they had been part of us, they would have never gone out from us.” Of any part of our text today, this truth is the most sobering and staggering.
c) Deniers – v22-23 – Recently there were news reports about finding the “Bones of Jesus.” You see, sad to say that our American culture is seemingly always looking for ways to disprove Jesus. The evidences for the character and claims of Jesus far outweigh any evidence to the contrary, but there are still those who want to DENY Jesus. Next, John speaks of “antichrists?” Notice, He did not say, “THE” antichrist, but rather “antichrists” meaning those who OPPOSE Christ. It requires no imagination to see this progression, how the Deceivers in the body, become the deserter from the body, which in times, develops into the deniers of the body.
i) It is extremely important to KNOW the “TROUBLE” we have. For instance, in the AA meetings, if you are to receive help you must begin at this point, “my name is Jerry & I’m an alcoholic.” So it is with our spiritual trouble.
3) KNOW THE TRUTH– 3 things are suggested in the text for Believers, the “true believers”;
a) True believers have an anointing – The Greek word is “chrisma” which, in another translation is unction. It’s like to cover or “rub down” with oil. It is as if the Holy Spirit has covered you completely and you can’t hide.
b) True believers have an assurance – “eternal life” illus: the pains of child birth lead to a baby. In the same way, the pains of earth lead to heaven
c) True believers have an authenticity – we must KNOW that we are called to be Doers & not just hearer. This is about “who we are.”/ not putting on the good “front”.
Read PSALMS 1 / Buford Pusser stood tall in his day. Paul stood tall in his day. Our Lord Christ stood tall and stands tall every day. He calls His Children to Walk Tall.
