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| Mike Hosey, Elder |
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One cannot
read the bible and not notice the sheer number of references to warfare.
The Apostle Paul
tells us that we are in a state of war, and that we wage our warfare differently than the world does (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
In Ephesians 6:10-20 he tells us to suit up, like a soldier, with armor and
sword! In Ephesians 6:12, he tells us that our battle is not with flesh and
blood. Jesus tells us that our ultimate enemy is Satan, who runs a stealthy
campaign of deception (Matthew 13:37-39).
And even
though we are physical beings waging war against immaterial forces, we still are
told to fight the good fight (1
Timothy 1:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:12).
In fact, Paul
tells us that we are not just ordinary citizens. He uses the words "good soldier"
in describing what we are to be like, while telling us that part of being a good
soldier is to share in sufferings and not to become entangled with civilian
pursuits (2 Timothy 2:3-4)!
In other
words, Paul tells us we are to be self-disciplined, trained, battle focused, separated
from the easy entrapments of a non-warrior's life, and most importantly self-sacrificial
-- because those are the things that encompass good soldiers.
In truth,
every good American soldier who has died in service to his country is a
parallel to Paul's description. They serve as examples of true citizenship in a
free country. Their deaths serve as a
reminder to the high price that must be paid to keep a country free.
It is something
that we must never forget! As Christians, we would do well to emulate their
sacrifices in our own spiritual walks. After all, Jesus said that no man has
any greater love than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
Christian
and Non-Christian men and women laid down their lives so that we can freely worship God.
Let's honor them by exercising that right to worship. But more importantly,
lets honor them by sacrificing our lives to a warrior's discipline in taking
the gospel message to everyone.
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