Defending What's Right

"Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." Proverbs 20:11

This month we observe the 60th anniversary of VE Day - victory over our European enemies in World War II. We thank God that the free world was able to defend what's right against challenging odds. We pray for world peace and that nations will never again rise up against one another in such a way.

We're now separated from that world war by six decades. For young men the same ages as those who fought 60 years ago, World War II is perhaps only dates and facts in a history book. Most of the men who fought in that war are in their 80s or gone.

I vividly recall World War II as a boy, when winning was a life and death matter that dominated our radio broadcasts, dinner table talk, church services, and prayers. And I grew quickly from a boy to a young man when I joined the Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific.

My best memory was coming home after the war. Our country was enjoying a renewed can-do spirit. We won. We defended our freedoms and way of life against powerful countries who were bent on taking over the world. Nothing could stop us.

It feels good to defend what is right and to see wrong defeated. In World War II, we defended what we know in our hearts to be right: that we should be free, treated fairly and equally, allowed to speak and worship as we please, and to have the opportunity to pursue happiness and fulfill our dreams.

God has given us a conscience to know what is right. He has given us abilities to stand up for what is right in the face of wrong. As we sing in the old hymn, "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war," defending what's right can be a battle. We need to keep fighting for what's right with the same energy we expended during World War II.

In our complex society today, we can each quickly come up with our own lists of wrongs that should be righted. Maybe we let them slide. We might just "preach to the choir" by only complaining to others who share our views. Even if we get angry and frustrated, we too often choose to avoid conflict, or we tell ourselves someone else will step up on our behalf.

Defending what's right is never easy - not during World War II or with issues in society today. But God expects us to be righteous. And nothing is more rewarding than victory over what we know is wrong. We would do well in serving God to follow the example of those we honor this month for defending what is right.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

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Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.