On October 14, 1912, while campaigning for president under the short-lived Bull Moose party, an assassination attempt was made on Theodore Roosevelt as he got up to speak at a campaign rally. After being shot, Roosevelt did not seek immediate medical attention. He went on to give his speech before going to the hospital.
It is reported, James Schrank, standing only six feet away, pointed a gun at Roosevelt’s chest and fired in the assassination attempt. The bullet ripped through Roosevelt’s heavy, thick overcoat at chest high. Inside the breast pocket of his overcoat was his 50 page speech, folded in half and his metal eyeglass case. The bullet passed through his overcoat, the 100 pages and the metal eyeglass case, lodging in his chest, stopping just shy of piercing his lungs.
The one hundred layers of paper and metal case are the only things that stood between life and death that day for Roosevelt. He began his speech stating, “I don’t know if you fully understand that I’ve just been shot, but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
The test of a person’s character comes under times of stress and duress. You can be kind and giving, strong and helpful, yet your true character will always shine in times of difficulty. Your reputation is what people think of you. Your true character is always revealed in times of stress and struggle.
The apostle Paul lived through perhaps more adversity and hardship for his faith than anyone before or since – except Christ. Yet, he stayed true to his belief and faith in God and Christ Jesus.
In your life when hard times come, what is revealed about your character? Do you act in rage and anger? Are you looking for, even praying for revenge on your oppressors? Do you use words and actions that are opposite of the reputation you otherwise try to exemplify?
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reads, “We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.”
The apostle Paul was under pressure from Jews, Gentiles, church leaders, and the Roman government, yet he was not crushed. He was perplexed and persecuted but knew he was not abandoned by God. He was struck down and beaten (physically and mentally) several times, yet His spirit was never defeated.
Begin praying, asking God to help you this week to strengthen your resolve to persevere, in all things, in Christ-like character by His grace and glory. Then you can say it takes more than this to stop a Bull Moose Christ-centered Christian.
