My Answer to a Russian or Chinese Attack on America

If I'm going to be radical about something, this is it.

I've been thinking a lot about the Russian incursion into Ukraine and how I would respond if something similar were to happen to me. I mean, what if a convoy of Russian or Chinese tanks began to traverse the winding and potholed road to my little compound?

The truth is, I’m fairly well armed for a 21st century American. And I do have a pretty good supply of ammunition. But to be honest with you, what’s one man with a few guns going to do against an army with tanks, missiles, and grenade launchers? I’ll do my part, I suppose, but Miss Kay and I wouldn’t last till the water got hot. That’s the truth.

So, what would I do? Some people like to give easy answers like, “We just need to trust God in times like these.” But it’s almost too easy of an answer because it sounds a lot like saying that we should trust God only when all else fails. I’m not one of those people. I don’t chart my own path until I run up on a snag and then go to God for direction. I have been putting my faith in God for many years — long before the Russian army threatened to blow up the world. Trusting God is nothing new to me.

So, because I’ve been seeking him all along as the only source of my peace, I’ve decided that I will not be the man who stirs others up about world events. Others may do that, but I won’t. Instead, I’ll go to my grave using my time and resources to direct the people I run across to the King of kings. I will call attention to the cross of Christ — to his sacrifice. I will plead with others to lay down their fears, ambitions, possessions, and futures at the throne of God and to trust him to lead them into eternity — safe and sound. 

That’s not to say that I won’t stir others up. But when I get people fired up, I’m going to try and get them alarmed about their sin, to repent of it, and to turn to Christ. I’ve just weighed things in the balance and decided that if I am going to be radical about something, it’s going to be something that lasts for eternity — the gospel of Christ. 

A few years ago, I was able to visit Athens, Greece, to film our movie, “Torchbearer.” While there, I visited the Areopagus in Athens where the apostle Paul stood before a throng of pagan philosophers and argued that Christ was raised from the dead. While standing in the place where he spoke, I recited his speech word-for-word for the cameras. I was humbled, I can tell you that.

 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” (Acts 17)

If you want to know how I live my life, this is it. God created everything. And since he is the Creator, he is the Lord of heaven and earth. As a result, he doesn’t need my help to do anything. In fact, he is the one who gives me life and breath. What can I bring to the table to help God? I’m only here on this planet breathing his air because of his mercy. 

I wish that I had seen this earlier in my life, but because he is merciful, the Lord of heaven and earth worked behind the scenes from before I was even born to bring me to a point where I would reach out and find him. He had his eye on me even when I was swilling liquor, smoking weed, and chasing women. I think about it now and it humbles me. The whole time, he was right there. If I’d known that I could have just reached out and found him, and I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.

Even though it took me a while to listen to his voice, I’m glad that he finally got it through my thick skull that I can only be truly joyful, fulfilled, and unafraid by following him. When the Son of God became one of us, lived amongst us, and was crucified for our sins, he became closer to us than any man or woman would have ever thought possible.

What kind of God would do something like that? All I know is that I’m grateful for what he’s done. I truly am. 

This is why you won’t find me stirring the fires of fear and hatred.  I don’t march to the beat of the politicians’ war drums but to the heartbeat of the Almighty. I’m trying to walk in step with the one who was raised from the dead on my behalf. I just figure that if I do that, I’m okay no matter what the outcome of the political theater that’s going on around me is.  

Americans are afraid right now, that’s for sure. But all I can tell you is that if you want to be liberated from the spirit of fear that’s taking so many hearts captive over the past few weeks, just reach out for God! Then, no matter what happens, you’re good to go. I promise you, I don’t regret doing it. Not one bit. In fact, I’m glad I did, and I think you will be too.