5 Mandates for the Godly ManSample

Be Courageous 

The third Mandate is to "Be Courageous." We all have an idea of what courage looks like. It's the macho guy in movies that is 'all that' and then some. You’ve seen him—the guy who seems to always show up at the right time, the one who never misses a shot in the game, takes charge of a situation, and seemingly always knows just what to do and say. The most intimidating guy in the office. Right? Wrong! 

Desmond Doss was a United States Army Corporal who was a conscientious objector. Desmond wanted to help in one of the bloodiest wars in history, without a weapon. Instead of taking any life, he became a medic saving lives. Even though Doss came under fire by his own commanding officers threatening him with prison time, even after being beaten by his own guys, even after being publicly humiliated by his sergeant, Doss wouldn't budge. He stood firm to what he believed. His company considered his refusal to use a gun in combat as putting their lives in danger, so they hated him for it. 

Doss plunged, weaponless, into machine gun and mortar fire. The US was pushed back, but Doss refused to take cover. Nonetheless, God convicted him to go ahead. Doss went into areas that were regarded to be unsafe for either side, desperately trying to save men. After tending their wounds, he would drag them across the battlefield to the edge of a cliff and lower the injured soldier down to warm hands. Doss did this, man after ma,  and called on God to help him. That day he saved 75 men. 

One night, while saving a fellow soldier, a grenade went off, wounding his legs. Instead of calling another medic from cover, he waited five hours for the litter bearer to reach him. Despite suffering severe wounds, Doss saw another soldier more critical than himself and got off the stretcher. He demanded the soldiers take the other man. While waiting for the litter bearers to return, Doss was struck again in the arm, suffering a compound fracture. Doss had courage in the face of danger, courage in the face of temptation (to flee like the rest), courage in the face of loss, and courage in the face of suffering.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Doss' actions in the World War earned him The Medal of Honor. Decades later, his true-life story was made into a Hollywood film called Hacksaw Ridge. His character was accurately portrayed, not as the platoon's honcho, but rather, as a slim young man bent on doing his duty. 

"No one ever won a war by giving their life", his superior officer said in the movie. That statement was far from true, because Jesus did that very thing! When He said, "It is finished," He referred to the spiritual war—the battle—that was initiated in the Garden and won on Golgotha's hill! That day He said to you and me, too: Go. Fight. Never give up. Never give in. Don't fear. And be courageous in all things, for the war has already been won!