When America was attacked on 9/11, it shook our nation to its core. Almost immediately, there was a patriotic surge of people voluntarily joining the armed services to defend our country. Among these brave men and women was Pat Tillman, who was making big money as a professional football player. He joined the Army Rangers in 2002 and served honorably until he was killed in Afghanistan. Why did Tillman leave home, family, and a lucrative career? He might have asked, “Is there not a cause?”

Sometimes the more important things in a story become lost in familiarity or voluminous detail. We ask you to see something new and exciting from the old record of David challenging and defeating Goliath. When the Philistines gathered their armies to assault Israel, their champion, Goliath, struck paralyzing fear into the heart of Israel and King Saul. No one would challenge him until young David arrived. Quickly assessing the situation, he was willing to fight Goliath, declaring to all, “Is there not a cause?” (I Samuel 17:29). The answer was, “Yes.” God’s people, God’s promised land, and God’s name were being assaulted. Therefore, David volunteered to go to battle against Goliath (vs. 32), and he did so in the right way and for the right reasons. He was willing to fight because this Philistine was willing to “defy the armies of the living God” (vs. 26). In other words, the testimony of Jehovah was at stake, and His integrity had to be defended. David went to battle, not in his own name, but “in the name of the Lord of hosts” (vs. 45). Upholding God’s name is always a worthy cause. David was willing to go to battle because he did so, not in the confidence of his own flesh, but confident that God would give him the victory (vss. 37,47). In other words, it would be God’s doing, and God would get the glory. Because David had a noble cause, he believed God would bless his efforts. David went to battle with the purpose that a God-given victory would show “all the earth…that there is a God in Israel” (vs. 46). To bring a powerful testimony of the Lord before lost souls was a cause worth fighting for.

We would ask every Christian, “Is there not a cause?” Lost souls need to hear the gospel, people of all ages need to be taught God’s Word, and churches need faithful people to advance the cause of Christ. Will you report for duty?