One of the most loved and well known stories of all time is the encounter of David and Goliath. It crosses cultures and ages. Even unbelievers will refer to a little David, beating a giant named Goliath. It is the story of the out-gunned and under-equipped underdog winning a great victory over the more powerful, superior, evil bully.

David— a nobody living in a family of nobodies. The youngest son of a poor farmer from the tiny village of Bethlehem. When he is mentioned by his father, he is not even called by his name; he is simply referred to as the youngest.

When his brothers were paraded before Samuel the prophet, David was left in the fields shepherding a few sheep—the job of a humble servant—just what God was looking for. The one rejected by others is the very one chosen by the Lord!

Do you struggle with fear and anxiety? You probably would if you stood before an evil king who could lop off your head with a mere motion of his hand! Daniel stood before just such a king who had threatened: “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble” (Daniel 2:5).

Hard times are some of the best times of our lives! Why? They are a gift from God that season the timber of our character, forging into us greatness, courage and strength (Phil. 1:29).

But it’s what happens during the days of tough going that makes all the difference. It was through the difficulties endured, that God built a tough resilience into young Joseph, along with wisdom and discernment that qualified him to be a great statesman (Gen. 37-50).

Could it be true that good times are really bad for us—and bad times are really good?

The story is told of a young boy who was playing around a lake one day when he fell into water over his head. He couldn’t swim and was struggling for his life. Fortunately, there was a man nearby who heard his cries for help and came to rescue him.

God promised Israel life and happiness—if they obeyed His Law. But He also promised death and curses if they rejected it. Health, wealth, freedom, happiness. Sickness, poverty, slavery, death. The choice was very clear! God then called heaven and earth as witnesses to His Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-20). Israel ignored God’s Law. In fact, all nations have ignored God’s Law—with one outstanding exception!

Where did you come from? How did you get here? Do you know who you are? Do you know why you were created? Who am I? Am I only a higher developmental stage of a baboon or an advanced degree of pond scum? Be careful, if you’re wrong about this you’ll be wrong on everything! Like a math equation—if the first number is wrong, everything following will be as well.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth. ~ Romans 1:18

Truth. What is it? Is it relative? Is truth true for some—but not all?

No! Truth is telling it like it really is! Why? Because it is what it is! It can’t be anything else. There can be no deviation, no stretching, no partial truth. Truth is truth.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
~ Psalm 19:1

Nature screams the existence of God — but without sound (Ps. 19:3). God speaks in a universal language that all can understand—but it is inaudible! His speech is specific and continuous. Every single night of the week, every week of the year, year after year ever since creation, nature testifies to us about God.

We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
— I Thessalonians 2:4

If our focus is on pleasing man, we will lack integrity. We will act one way around people (to make a good impression) and yet act another way when we think no one is looking. But if our focus is on pleasing the all-knowing, all-seeing, always-present God, then we will become a person of integrity.