THE GOOD SOLDIER

Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, men were lining up all over the place to enlist in the armed services. It was considered a great honor enlisting as a soldier in those days. I remember my Daddy taking a train to Chicago to an enlistment center, hoping on top of hope he would be accepted. When he returned home, my mother and I met him at the train and both were in tears. Daddy had not been accepted because of a deformed index finger caused by an accident at work. Mother was happy, Daddy was sad, but they were happy for my uncle who would be going with the Army.

Countless men and women from those early 1940's served our country, served it well and many paid the ultimate price in giving their lives on foreign fields with the intent of preserving our freedoms. In our day, some youth would have a problem in the military. One issue for many could be that of dealing with authority. Armed services demand respect and instant obedience to orders. We live in a day of rebellion as we look at riots and demonstrations many times on the part of college age youth. Choosing a military career in most cases is good for those enlisting where they learn discipline, work ethic and perhaps may learn a job skill that can carry them through life.

I hasten to say though, that rebellion and lack of respect for authority doesn't just rest with the young. At every stage of life, there are those who don't hesitate to show their disdain for any kind of authority. We may not be enlisted in any of our armed services, but as Christians, Scripture gives us the title of “Soldier” whether we accept that title or not. Paul gives us some information regarding being a good soldier for Christ. He begins by speaking of a soldier enduring hardness. Anyone who enlists as a soldier in our country knows that down the road there will be hard times in various degrees. Paul says:

Thou therefore endure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself
with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be
a soldier.
II Timothy 2:3,4

Just in these two brief verses, are found some expectations of us as soldiers of Jesus. We see that God's good soldiers will endure hardships of life that come their way. Those hardship times can run the gamut from bad to worse.

Why are we to avoid becoming entangled in the things of the world? Such robs us of our proper focus on our Commander. It's easy to find ourselves pleasing self and not pleasing Him who has provided for our every spiritual welfare. There can be only one Commander-in-Chief and he takes authority over all officers. It's easy to follow a lower officer and lose sight of the real Commander. This often happens in church settings where pastors or teachers become almost god-like in their relationships with the flock. Such leaders seem to draw people to themselves and not to the real Commander-in-Chief of our faith.

Many orders in the military are handed down through a staff of officers. When those orders reach soldiers, there can be no arguing or giving of opinion. As solders in God's army, we too have orders. We have received them through His Word to us. What we learn as we read isn't to be corrected, marginalized or ignored. We are to instantly obey in absolute loyalty to our Heavenly Father.

The important thing is realize we are in a battle. Satan is the enemy and does everything to defeat us or keep us in states of depression or anxiety. He would have us make choices not pleasing to our Father and that would be of harm to us. We know, though, that with Jesus we have the capability of victory in our lives. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit in us is greater than Satan who walks through the world looking for people to trip up...especially God's people.

Oh yes, our uniform. Just as we know folks by certain uniforms...policemen, nurses, firemen, and others...we too have a uniform, unlike those folks mentioned. Scripture tells us that we will be known by our love. We are known by the love Jesus pours into us and then through us into the lives of others.

Soldiers seem to stay fit. We too should stay fit spiritually for the battles we are often called on to fight. Our Commander encourages us and cheers us on at every turn. We are strengthened by God's Word taught to us by His Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit prompts us any number of times to keep us going in the right direction. We are strengthened through a consistent prayer life and of being regularly in the Scriptures.

Every asset is available to us from God to be strong and at the same time loving for this life we are called on to live. He has purpose for each of us and is available to us at any time. He wants each of us to Christians who are victorious and who bring glory to Him. Our stint in this life will be over only when our Father calls us to Himself in heaven where there will be no more battles, illness or mental anxieties. We will be Home...not just on leave...but HOME.

Father, thank You for bringing me to Yourself and for all the blessings You pour into my life even though I'm so undeserving. May I serve You well and love others as You would want. Thank You for your Holy Spirit who resides in me and for Jesus, Who made it all possible for me to be in relationship with You. In Whose name I pray...Amen