Few topics garner as much debate as war; whether one is for it or against it, believes it’s over or not, or believes progress is being made or not, is always a popular, yet heated subject matter. One thing is certain; a war needs a soldier. A war won’t and can’t take place without someone who believes enough in the cause to give their time and even their life for it.
Soldiers wake each day knowing that they have given their lives for the one they serve. They never forget that they are on duty. They never take their mission for granted. They never try to hide who they are or whom they serve. They never, ever flirt with the enemy. A good soldier knows his or her weaknesses and work to make sure that their weak spots don’t sabotage their mission.
Christians are soldiers on a mission. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to adequately fight against the enemy. He reminds us that our fight isn’t against each other, but with the Evil One; the same One who tempted our King and rejected our Lord. He secretly pursues us. He plants temptations and exploits our weaknesses. He wants our souls and will stop at nothing to get them. He will hurt our family, lead us into danger zones and whisper words of doubt into our ears. He will stop at nothing to defeat us.
Though we are on this dangerous mission, we can take comfort knowing that we can be victorious! As soldiers, we can wake each day realizing the fact that we are in a spiritual war. The same one many fail to see or accept. We don’t have to be afraid as we fight. The One we serve has promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised to help us escape those battles which are too big for us to handle (I Corinthians 10:13). The One we serve is always beside us as a friend and brother. He doesn’t send us out as soldiers to fight alone. He offers us guidance, protection and in the end a home with Him.
We should never forget that we are soldiers of a King so powerful that through Him the Universe was made. That while He lived on this earth he made the blind see, the deaf hear and brought the dead back to life. He was a nonconformist, associated with sinners, and enraged the religious, yet gave His own life out of love. He allowed Himself to be ridiculed, beaten and separated from His Father when He could have called legions to His aid. He never forgot about us. He never thought for an instant that we weren’t worth it. He loved us then as He loves us now.
Our King sent us on a mission in Matthew 28:19-20. We are instructed to go, teach and make disciples not with violence or intimidation but with love and grace. Our mission may be filled with battles that could test our patience and break our hearts but we will fight and we will succeed and we will always remember that the battle belongs to our Lord.
Don’t get caught up in daily details. You are a soldier and victory is near!
Paula Harrington is the mother of five children and resides in Calvert City. She is compiler and editor of the books, Once Upon a Bible Class, A Common Bond and A Sunday Afternoon with the Preachers’ Wives. Her work has appeared in Christian Woman magazine, the Christian Chronicle newspaper and numerous other sites and websites. When she’s not teaching at one of Marshall County’s finest schools, she’s helping her family at the Calvert Drive-in Theater (and by helping, she means eating the cheeseburgers). She can be contacted at harringtonseven@yahoo.com