Still Standing: Faith That Moves Forward

Church, today we pause to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Not as a myth.

Not as a political mascot.

But as a Christian pastor, husband, father, and preacher of the gospel.

Dr. King earned a doctorate in theology, served as a Baptist minister, and spent most of his adult life behind a pulpit before he ever stood behind a podium. His worldview was shaped not by political ideology, but by Scripture, the teachings of Jesus, and a deep conviction that God’s truth had something to say to the brokenness of the world.

He believed the Bible was not just something to be quoted on Sundays, but something to be lived out on Mondays.

Dr. King led during a time in American history when injustice was not hidden—it was legalized. Segregation was law. Discrimination was public. And fear was real. Speaking up didn’t just cost popularity—it could cost your freedom, your safety, or your life.

And eventually, it did.

Yet even in that climate, Dr. King chose to respond not with violence, but with biblical conviction. He preached nonviolence not because he was weak, but because he believed Jesus meant what He said when He told His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.

Dr. King once said,

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

That belief was rooted in Scripture—the confidence that God is sovereign, righteousness matters, and truth will outlast injustice.

And here’s the key point for us today:

Dr. King didn’t keep standing because life was easy.

He kept standing because his faith was anchored in a God who is faithful.

Which brings us to the Word of God today:

Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Church, this message isn’t about elevating a man.

It’s about learning from a life that was shaped by obedience to Christ.

You may be tired.

You may be discouraged.

You may feel the weight of the moment we’re living in.

But by the grace of God…

You’re still standing.

I. DOING GOOD IS A COMMAND, NOT A CONVENIENCE

Paul doesn’t say, “Do good when it’s easy.”

He says, “Do good—don’t grow weary.”

Why?

Because doing good is part of our calling as followers of Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Good works don’t save us—

but saved people work out their faith (Philippians 2:12–13).

Illustration: “The Night-Shift Believer”

Some of the most faithful obedience happens quietly.

No applause. No recognition. Just consistency.

Hebrews 6:10 reminds us:

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people.”

Church, obedience done in obscurity is still obedience.

God sees it.

II. BIBLICAL JUSTICE FLOWS FROM GOD’S CHARACTER

Dr. King often quoted Amos 5:24:

“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Justice in Scripture is never separated from righteousness.

God’s justice reflects God’s character.

Psalm 89:14 says:

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”

Micah 6:8 gives us the balance:

“To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

ILLUSTRATION: “READING THE TIDES”

If you spend any time at the beach on Kauai, you learn pretty quick:

you don’t just jump in the water without checking the tide.

Some days the ocean looks calm —

but the current underneath will pull you sideways before you even realize it.

Locals know:

If you ignore the tide, you don’t just drift — you end up in trouble.

Justice works the same way.

Justice without humility ignores the current.

Mercy without truth drifts wherever feelings take it.

But justice guided by God’s Word understands the tide —

it moves with wisdom, not impulse.

Psalm 25:5 says:

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.”

At the beach, wisdom keeps you safe.

In life, God’s truth keeps you grounded.

When we let Scripture guide our steps,

we don’t get swept away —

we move forward with purpose.

Dr. King believed real change happens when hearts are guided by God’s truth, not carried away by resentment or driven by anger—and that conviction leads us to an even harder calling:

III. OVERCOMING EVIL WITHOUT BECOMING EVIL

One of the clearest biblical convictions Dr. King held was this:

You do not defeat evil by becoming like it.

That’s straight Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Jesus commands in Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”