Good Soldiers

2Timothy 2:3-4 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

What is a “good” soldier?

It’s one who understands and lives out his responsibility as a protector and defender of both his fellow soldiers and the citizens he represents.

It is one who takes his role and responsibility seriously, seriously enough to interrupt and inconvenience his civilian lifestyle, seriously enough to abstain from those things that would limit his ability to perform his duties to the best of his ability, seriously enough to motivate him to prepare diligently sharpening his skills well before any need arose.

It is one who takes seriously the preparation, training, necessary to be victorious in the battles he will face.

It is one who takes his enemy seriously and doesn’t let his guard down.

It is one who understands the transcendent cause to which he has committed and is so compelled by that cause and commitment to both live and die for it.

It is one who understands the nature of the war he is engaged in, understands his enemy, and strategizes seriously for victory.

It is one who, no matter the odds or how hard things get, will never ever quit.

It is one who considers the cost and lays aside self-interest (selfish living) to serve THE King and fellow countrymen and those in need.

It is one who keeps his eye on the cause and the prize and doesn’t loose sight of either no matter what the situation.

It is the label each Christian is to live up to, not for just anyone, but for THE King of all kings and THE cause of all causes.

Are We At War?

Depending on the circles we run in we may hear a lot or a little about spiritual warfare, but the Bible talks about it very directly and gives numerous examples of real life spiritual warfare.

Here are a few references for Spiritual Warfare:

Ephesians 6:10-18

1Peter 5:8

Colossians 2:13-15

1Timothy 6:12

1John 4:4

Romans 8:35-39

Here are a few examples of Spiritual Warfare:

Luke 13:10-17

Mark 9:14-32

The Entire Book of Acts

2Corinthians 11:23-12:10

We sometimes loose sight of the unseen/supernatural/spiritual world and all it’s effect on the seen/natural world.

Often circumstances and everyday living can become so routine that we forget that this natural world is just a scratch on the surface of what life is all about and that there is another side of life/creation that is even more real and more important in the big picture.

Within this unseen world exists an unseen (supernatural) enemy who takes our destruction seriously.

The Bible gives us good news about our fight against this enemy, but we do have to fight.

The Bible also warns that not taking this war seriously or giving up will have serious negative consequences.

The question, “Are we at war?” is not about weather or not we are in a war, but rather are we engaging in it properly, or are we ending up passive victims.

Jesus said, “…The GATES of hell will not prevail against the church.” (Matthew 18) It’s important to note he said “GATES” because it points to the offensive posture the church (God’s People) is supposed to have and be in.

Think about it. Gates! What is a Gate? It’s a kind of door. Is there anything scary or destructive about a door? No! Do doors chase people around and hurt them? Do people have signs at the edge of their property saying, “Beware of door/gate!”? Are doors/gates buying guns and assaulting people?

When Jesus referenced the gates of hell he was pointing out the fact that we (the church) would be assaulting hell, not hell assaulting us. He was pointing out that we (the church) would be taking the offensive, putting Hell on the defense, driving it back to it’s headquarters. He was pointing to the fact that the church is a mobile thing, not a building settled on a plot of ground. There is no mention by Jesus of the “gates of the church”.

In life (in this world and western culture as we know it) the opposite seems true, so I ask… Are we at war? Are we taking the offensive in our life (in our personal life, our home, our family, our work, our neighborhood, and so on)? Are we hitting back when the devil does blindside/surprise attack us?

Too many Christians lie down and play dead. They think being passive and doing nothing will make the bad guy go away. NOT SO! This bad guy and his brothers-in-arms are hell-bent on your total destruction in the most miserable way possible, and they intend to enjoy every second of it.

For others they start the good fight well, but after a while they get weary and tired and end up not taking any offense against the enemy and when he attacks they try to defend a little, but eventually yield to just taking the hits and trying to role with the punches or bombs (whichever the case may be), but the bottom line is in the end they give up, they quit, and thus live out the rest of their life in misery (a prince/princess living as a prisoner/slave) constantly being assaulted in every area of life by a ruthless, merciless, tyrannical captor (2Timothy 2:20-26)

The fight is not always easy and it is one that requires time, energy, thought, and so much more, but it’s a fight that God promises we will win. That’s what makes it a “good” fight (1Timothy 6:12).

I used to fight a lot as a kid. The only fights I ever considered a “good fight” was the ones that I won.

You can do it! God made you a victor, a winner! He made you to kick devil butt and take no prisoners! He made you to be a liberator to set other captives free. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world! You are more than a conqueror! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Be the hero God made you to be! Put on the full armor of God! Fight the good fight! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfecter (meaning he not only wrote the book, but lived it out proving that it works) of our faith, and never, never, never quit/give up!

Pray, strategize, implement! Let the church yell a war cry that makes the demons tremble and let’s start fighting!

The Best Part

As a person who claims to be a follower of Jesus I have to regularly evaluate my life with Jesus, as it is written to “Test yourselves to see if you are STILL in the faith.”

I have to ask the tough question of, “Am I living up to the commitment I made to Jesus?” I have to honestly evaluate whether I’m the real deal, or just a hypocrite.

Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…”

Do I seek Jesus and his way above all other things, or do I put OTHER things FIRST?

Jesus said, “If you love me you’ll obey my commands.”

I say I love Jesus, but do I really? What am I saying and proving by my actions daily? Am I showing love toward God?

Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

Is there anyone or anything that I love (prioritize/pursue/live for) more than Jesus? Do I take the time to “take up my cross”, in other words consider my life and the things in it that need to change, and then make those changes no matter how painful? Do I make the time, do I put forth the energy and effort, do I make the sacrifice to grow in my faith and be more like Jesus?

Jesus said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Am I passionate and zealous in living for Jesus or am I half-hearted about it? Do I diligently pursue God and his plan for my life? When I obey Jesus and follow him, am I doing it because I really want to or because I have to (it’s my religious obligation)? Am I really living FOR Jesus, or do I still live for myself?

God said, “Out of all your gifts you shall present every offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the sacred part from them.”

Is God getting my best or my leftovers? Is he number one in my life, the one I truly live for, or is he just a hobby? Am I taking the BEST of ALL God has given me, and giving it to Him (The best of my time, money, talents, energy, etc.)?

These are questions that no one can answer for me, except me, and they must be answered.

For too long people have been able to just attend church and live life any way they want, but at some point we have to say, “Enough is enough!”

When will we really care enough to be the real deal and to make following Jesus (which we claim to be) THE priority in our life, so much so that we will make the commitment and sacrifice to personally grow, becoming more like Jesus every day, and reaching out to those who don’t know him with the love and truth of Jesus?