We’ve spent the last month examining what it truly means to be a soldier for Christ. We’ve examined:
🪖 The Battlefield.
🪖 The enemy.
🪖 Our Spiritual Armor.
🪖 Our Actions & Attitudes as Soldiers.
🪖 God as our General.
🪖 Our Guaranteed Victory.
While we are soldiers for Christ, it is important to remember that the spiritual war we are engaged in ultimately belongs to God. As Jahaziel told King Jehoshaphat when the armies of the Moabites and Ammonites gathered against the people of God, “ing Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s!” (2 Chron. 20:15) And while we are not fighting a phsyical battle against a earthly army, we are engaged in battle for the Lord and He will fight for us. It is one of the last images presented the book of Revelation:
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war….Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army.… The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” (Revelation 19:11 – 16)
When the time comes for the final battle against Satan, God will not expect us to defeat Satan. No. We will have done our part. When God decides to end the war, He will send out His Son Jesus – who has already defeated Satan. Christ will appear to fight the end of the war Satan started in the eons ago. And, neither Satan nor his servants stand a chance against the Lamb of God.
So, what is our job ultimately then as soldiers? We are to fight for God until that day comes.
To end our discussion, I want to reference a few lyrics from two songs I heard on my run early this week. I was listening to my Disney playlist and a couple of songs from Mulan came on during my run. If you aren’t familiar with the Chinese story, it focuses on a young woman, who to save her father from sure death, disguises herself as a man to fight in the army in his place. It is certain death if she is found out and probable death in the war since she is clearly not initially trained for battle. It is a story of loyalty, bravery, and fortitude. So, two of the songs from the film (one animated and one the real life) present ideas I want to connect to our discussion as soldiers for Christ.
In the song, “Make a Man Out of You,” one line reads Tranquil as a forest, but on fire within. This reminded me of Jesus’ advice to his disciples as He sent them out the first time, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10). We must be wise yet peaceful. As soldiers, we must be tranquil but full of zeal.
In the song, “Loyal, Brave, and True,” the chorus refrain repeatedly asks, “Should I ask myself in the water what a warrior would do?…Am I loyal, brave, and true.” This immediately reminded me of James’ statement, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror (James 1).“ As soldiers for Christ, we must look in the mirror and compare our lives and actions to word of God. Are we the type of soldier God expects us to be?
So, ask yourself:
🪖 Are you loyal to God?
🪖 Are you willing to fight for God?
🪖 Do you stand in God’s truth?
Are you a soldier of God? If not, why not? Why not stand with the army and the general that will never be defeated?
Are you the soldier God expects you to be? If not, fix it. Do not become the weak spot in the line. Do not let your fellow soldiers down.
Join the Lord’s Army – the victory is already ours! #SoldiersForChrist #TheLordIsMyBanner
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