Romans 12:2 instructs, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
For history, the greater culture has pulled humanity farther from God. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. " This means the world is plagued by sin, and this sin leads to death, destruction, and our demise.
As believers, we must be vigilant so that we don’t get swept up in the wave of what is being touted as the right way by the culture. Our firm foundation is Christ alone, and our primary tool for knowing is the way of the Bible. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We must rely on God’s instruction to keep us on his narrow path, especially when culture shifts so quickly; it’s so easy to get confused with so many voices always coming at us.
As we investigate the scriptures, we see that many biblical figures had to learn to stand firm even when the culture shifted. Hearing their stories can encourage us, as we are each called to walk in the light and avoid the darkness.
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1. Noah
One of the first and most notable biblical figures who stood firm when the world thought he was crazy was Noah. In Genesis 6, we read that as the population of the Earth increased, God saw how great humans' wickedness had become. God’s heart was grieved, and he planned to exact justice on his Creation. Noah was the only righteous man God found on Earth, so he spared him and his family.
God instructed Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals, and Noah followed his instructions exactly. God gave Noah dimensions for this never-before-seen boat, and the people mocked Noah for building something to be saved from a flood in a rainless world. Nonetheless, Noah persevered! He clung to the Word and faithfully followed God’s instructions. He remained righteous when surrounded by an evil generation.
Genesis 7:6 says, “And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.”
Standing firm requires eyes focused on our unseen God and a relentless commitment to do what he says. One of the chief tactics that the enemy of our souls is using to pull the current generation away from God’s way is distraction. Every moment is filled with snippets of noise coming from every direction. We don’t have time to consider what God is saying and how to apply his word to our world.
Noah knew what he needed to do because he had taken time to hear from God. If Noah had been busy endlessly scrolling or watching YouTube shorts, he wouldn’t have gotten the life-changing and life-saving memo he needed to get to work. Many of us need to make space to hear the Lord, and once we know what he wants us to be doing, we should become laser-focused on doing just that, just as Noah was.
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2. Caleb and Joshua
Joshua was a young leader who served under Moses. When the wandering Israelites neared God’s promised land, Moses chose 12 men to scout the area, and Joshua was one of them (Numbers 13). They were instructed to observe whether the people were strong or weak, whether the land was good, whether the inhabitants had built walls to protect themselves, check out the soil and vegetation, and bring back crop samples. This was a vital mission.
The men left for 40 years to scout the land, and when they returned, they reported that it was terrific, full of milk and honey, but the people were too mighty. They believed the Israelites could not conquer the land God had promised them.
Then Caleb spoke up! Despite the culture saying God was not great enough to deliver what he had promised them, he boldly declared, "We can certainly conquer it!” Joshua tears his clothes and pleads with the crowd, reminding them that God could give them this land!
These men did not lose faith. Even when the situation appeared hopeless, they stood firm, confident of who God is and what He is capable of doing. When the culture shifts, rooted faith is what we need to stand firm. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” This is our heart’s cry when we see our world sinking. Come what may, we trust in the Lord!
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3. Esther
Esther 4:14 says, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther was perfectly placed through God’s providential power in a royal position. She had access to the King, who had been tricked into setting in motion a plan that would destroy the Jewish people. The culture had shifted to be against the Jews. Someone needed to intercede on behalf of these people, or they would all be killed.
With Mordecai’s encouragement, Esther is determined to approach the king and ask him to save her people. She knew this was a risky plan, and her life could easily be taken for making such a bold request. Nonetheless, she stood firm in her conviction to speak God’s truth to power, knowing she was made for this moment.
When culture shifts, it's no surprise to God. He knows the hearts of men, but that is why he is also actively seeking to save us, because we were born for such a time as this! We have been made on purpose to be a light unto this dark world. Reminding others of God’s truth is something every believer is called to do in whatever way we can. When we stand firm, we often stand in the gap for those caught up in the darkness. We become the ones who call out for justice, champion truth in a world governed by lies, and are human embodiments of God’s love for this world.
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4. John the Baptist
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. According to the Bible, he was about the same age as Jesus; both Mary and Elizabeth, the boys' mothers, were pregnant at the same time.
John had a special call on his life to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah (Mark 1:2-3). John always seemed to stand out as he was recorded to have spent many years living in the wilderness, wearing camel hair, and living on milk and honey (Luke 1:80, Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6).
Sometimes, to stand firm, we have to stand out. Living as others do doesn’t often create unique results. If we want to build families and a solid faith, we frequently have to choose to live differently from the people around us.
John unapologetically pointed all he met towards the Messiah, and at the end of his life, he faced the most radical testing of his faith. He was arrested for telling Herod that it was against God’s will for him to marry his wife, who was the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Ultimately, he died because he had spoken out against the immoral behavior of the ruler of Galilee.
Standing firm often costs us something, if not everything, but in the end, John the Baptist lost his life but gained eternity in Heaven with Jesus. He lived all his days with one aim: to please God and to share the message that God had given him with as many as would listen.
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5. Paul
Paul’s story stands out because he was the leader of the anti-Jesus Jewish movement (Galatians 1:13). He killed and persecuted those who were claimed to be followers of the Way until one day God disrupted his life and revealed the truth to his heart (Acts 9:1-19), and suddenly, every part of who he was changed. He became one of the most prominent leaders in the early church and wrote most of the New Testament. What a transformation!
Maybe you can relate to Paul; you’ve spent most of your life living in the dark, passionately pursuing what you thought was right, only to have God radically transform your life. After Paul's conversion, he not only repented and learned all he could about Jesus, but he also offered others the theological understanding they needed to come to know Christ themselves. He preached the good news everywhere he went, sharing his testimony as one way to connect with those who were lost.
He built a whole new life on the Gospel truth, and a key part of his transformation was his willingness to completely let go of everything he once was so he could become who God was calling him to be. Paul was faithful to Jesus, standing firm on his new faith, for the remainder of his life. His miraculous conversion was possible because he had a radical dedication to Jesus.
Our lives change forever when we fully surrender. We grow the endurance to weather the storms of cultural change or personal upheaval when we are dedicated to loving Jesus with our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Paul’s example gives up hope! God can use anyone, even the worst of the culture, to become a leader in his church when their hearts are surrendered to God’s way.
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Originally published Tuesday, 29 July 2025.