Proverbs 28:1. The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Why do the wicked run away even though no one is chasing them? Why do they constantly look over their shoulder to see who is pursuing? Why are they suspicious? Insecure? Paranoid even?
Guilt.
This is what guilt produces in a person, a subconscious feeling that something is always wrong. Or maybe even a very real conscious knowledge that we have made one too many enemies in this life with our bad behavior. The wicked never seem to trust anyone. Why? Because they themselves could not be trusted.
By contrast the righteous person is bold as a lion. Lions don’t typically look over their shoulder to see what’s chasing them. Other than people, no other animals chase lions. No other predator hunts and stalks a lion. The lion is the king of the beasts. They basically go where they want, lie down where they want, chase what they want. They are bold.
In the Old Testament, the righteous person is the one who knows the right thing to do and they do it. They are fair and just. They are kind and helpful. They fear the Lord and follow his ways. Such a person doesn’t need to look over their shoulder, or fear the recourse of an enemy. The righteous don’t needlessly offend others, and don’t use others for their own gain. The righteous are actively seeking to turn enemies into friends, right wrongs, and build bridges. Almost everyone likes a righteous person, don’t they?
Of course there’s really only ever been one totally righteous person to ever live. Jesus. He alone always knew what the right thing was, and he always did it. And Christ was bold, wasn’t he? He was bold in leaving Heaven to come to Earth to defeat sin and death on the cross for us. He was bold in his unconditional love for everyone. He boldly confronted evil, casting out demons, and calling out sin. He boldly went around doing good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the outcasts. He boldly preached the kingdom of God and the good news of salvation in him.
And everybody loved Jesus didn’t they? Well…they did until they didn’t. Sometimes even the righteous make enemies don’t they. Who would be the enemy of the righteous? The wicked. The problem for Jesus was that he was the only righteous one and literally everyone else was wicked. How much boldness does it take to remain righteous in a world of total wickedness? We can only imagine, and then praise God for Christ’s complete righteousness and boldness in the face of evil’s surrounding lions of Hell and death.
The Christian has been moved from wickedness to righteousness through faith in this same Christ that was bold for us. Now we too can live not only from his righteousness, but also in his boldness. Our consciences have been cleared by his forgiving and reconciling grace. Our past no longer pursues us, and our enemies can longer destroy us. Truly the only thing pursuing us in Christ is his own goodness and mercy all the days of our lives.
Live boldly, Christian! Live in the courage of Christ. Live like you’re going to live forever, because you are. Live like everything matters, because it does. Live like you have been set free from all condemnation and guilt, because you have been. Live like Christ lives in you, because he does.
You: Do you live a bold life for Christ or a fearful life ofregret?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ make us righteous?
Christ in you: How does our righteousness make us bold?
Pray: Father, you have made me righteous in Christ, now make me bold in him too. I confess that I have hurt others and feel insecure in those relationships. Give me courage to make those relationships right again to the best of my ability. Amen.
To Live is Christ 