The church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. Religion, especially in today’s world, is viewed as a passive way of life. However, God’s Book, the Bible, paints a far different picture of what Christians are to be. One of my favorite analogies that God uses for His people is the parallel to a soldier. Throughout the New Testament Scriptures, God placed serious emphasis on the militancy of His church. Someone has correctly said that the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Surely, that is why God placed such emphasis on His people to be militant and not passive. Therefore, each Christian is enrolled in the Lord’s army and, as such, has certain responsibilities. Let us scripturally consider some of the responsibilities that each Christian has in the Lord’s army.
Firstly, the Lord’s Army is a choice. Nearing the end of his life, Joshua spoke of the individual choice in serving God, “…choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Jesus closed the Revelation with emphasizing this choice, “…And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17b). In the Lord’s army, there is no “drafting.” There are no soldiers in the Lord’s army who are there by accident! It is a personal, conscious choice to enlist in the Lord’s army. While God would prefer all men to enlist, each person has a choice!
Secondly, the Lord’s Army has a captain. Sadly, some enlist in the Lord’s army and believe that they still have some control. In the Lord’s army, Jesus Christ is the only captain! He directs and the soldiers follow (Matthew 16:24). The writer of Hebrews made it quite clear who is in charge (Hebrews 2:10; 2 Chronicles 13:12). As the Captain, Jesus is the only Lord and King (1 Timothy 6:15) and the only Head (Colossians 1:18). Soldiers in the Lord’s army faithfully and willingly submit to Him (James 4:7).
Thirdly, the Lord’s Army follows commands. In the same way that a physical army must follow commands, the spiritual army of God has commands to obey as well. Those commands are clearly outlined in the soldier’s handbook (2 Timothy 3:15-17). When a soldier fails to obey the commands of the Captain, he is in serious trouble! Soldiers in the Lord’s army do not seek wisdom and commands from anyone other than their Captain by His authority (Matthew 28:18-20). “I think so’s,” “my opinions” and “if I were the captain” do not have any place in the Lord’s army. We must faithfully and willingly trust, obey and serve the commands we have been given!
Lastly, the Lord’s Army does not consort with the enemy. We are in a serious battle! There is a real enemy who is working daily to win this war (1 Peter 5:8). As such, there is no room for compromise. We must stand firm and neither consort nor fraternize with the enemy in any way (2 John 9-11). While there are other soldiers who have deserted the ranks (2 Thessalonians 3:6), we must not follow in their desertion! The battle belongs to those who do not conform to this ungodly world (Romans 12:1-2).
Dear Friends, the battle rages on. Each person who has enlisted in the Lord’s army has the responsibility to continue in the fight. If necessary, we must be willing to die for this wonderful cause (Revelation 2:10). As soldiers, while we are engaged in this battle upon the earth, we never get a leave of absence (Acts 2:42). However, to those who make the right choice to serve the one true Captain, daily following His commands and determined not to consort with the enemy, there is a great, eternal victory prepared (John 14:1-4). Little wonder why Paul was so confident at the end of his enlistment to write, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give to me in that day: and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Therefore, the inspired admonition sounds forth today as loud as ever, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Thank God!
