day no. 15,394: the place where the test is taking place

"If I profess with loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except that little point which the world and the Devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point." - Martin Luther

It takes no spine to stand up where there is no push back. It takes no courage to have convictions if there is no contention. It takes no strength of will to believe where there is no imposing will.

If you are orthodox in the bunkers and heretical on the battlefield, your strength is weakness and you orthodoxy is lame. If it cannot walk, it cannot get you where it claims to go.

The soldier is tested on the battlefield. To shrink back from bullets is to betray all the training that led up to them. To be orthodox where no one's looking is meaningless if you shirk orthodoxy in the place where everyone is talking. The battle is where the conversation is taking place. Remain orthodox there or you betray orthodoxy everywhere.

Proverbs 24:10
If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.

You must be faithful where the test is taking place. It makes no difference if you're well-versed and prepared in your office if the examination is taking place down the hall and you fail to show up. You do not pass the test by skipping it. You pass it by being there, prepared and proclaiming in bold objective ink what you say you know when in the comfort of your study.