I Am A Soldier

I was reading an old book the other day about the Huguenots, the Waldensians and others that tried to remain true to the commands of God during the Dark Ages, and the contrast  between them and us is absolutely incredible. 

Thousands died cruel deaths; burned at the stake, hurled over cliffs, hung up with meat hooks, starved in prison, and yet very few, if any, turned back from following God. 

Yet today, it seems the slightest thing can turn many of us back from following Jesus.  Our feelings get hurt, so we quit.   Our leadership gets criticized, so we quit.  A pastor doesn’t come visit us at the right time, so we quit.   We don’t want to get involved, so we don’t.   We are afraid to make our neighbor uncomfortable, so we don’t share.  Church doesn't suit our tastes, so we stop attending.  At the slightest hint of resistance, we turn back.  Could it be that the worst enemy the church has is prosperity?

I mentioned this to a friend in another state, and he sent me this piece which I think needs to be our rallying cry.  Read it and see where you stand.  It is entitled, I am a Soldier.

I am a soldier.

I am a soldier in the army of my God;

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.

The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by

adversity and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army and I have enlisted for eternity

I will either retire from this army at the Second Coming or die in this

army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out.

I am faithful, reliable and dependable.

If my God needs me, I am there.

If He needs me in Sabbath School to teach children, work with youth,

help with adults or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I am there.

If He needs me in church Sabbath morning, Vespers, Wednesday, revival or

special services, I am there.

I am there to preach, teach, sing, play, pray, work or worship.

God can use me because I am there.

I am a Soldier. I am not a baby.

I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or

pepped up.

I am a Soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me,

entice me or lure me.

I am a Soldier. I am not a wimp.

I am in place saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name

and serving in His Kingdom.

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me

handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to.

I am a Soldier, and I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt badly enough to turn me around.

I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.

I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit,

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing,

And if I end up with nothing I will still break even.

I am a Soldier, I am committed, I will win.

My God will supply all my needs.

I am more than a conqueror, I will always triumph.

I can do all things through Christ .

Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot

weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy

me. Governments cannot silence me and Hell cannot handle me.

I am a soldier. I am committed. Even death cannot destroy me.

When my Commander calls me from this battlefield He will promote me and

then bring me back to rule this world with Him.

I am a Soldier in the army and I am marching, claiming victory.

I will not give up, I will not turn around. I am a Soldier marching Heavenbound.

I am a Soldier. Will you stand with me?

If God is in it, you can do it.

2Tim. 2:3    Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.

2Tim. 2:14     Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.

2Tim. 2:15    Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.  17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer.

The Calling

It is one thing to be so discouraged that you want to die.  It is quite another to get a fresh touch from God.   Let’s pick up the story in 1Kings 19:15.  Elijah is in a cave on the mountain of God and has just experienced a still, small voice.  Now he's ready to hear what else God has to say.

1Kings 19:15  The LORD said to him,  “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel — all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

1Kings 19:19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.  “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said,  “and then I will come with you.”

 “Go back,” Elijah replied.  “What have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

Elijah left the cave on Mt. Horeb with a new commission and a new lease on life.  He now had new marching orders.  And there is something about understanding what God has called you to do that helps you refocus and set out with a fresh determination to follow God.

Notice what one of the key things God tells Elijah. “…and anoint Elisha … to succeed you as prophet.”   In other words, “Elijah, you’re not going to be around forever, and you must (in the vernacular of our day) mentor someone to take over the work.”  Elisha needed to be trained.  He needed to be worked with to prepare him for what was to come.

And so Elijah went and found him hard at work plowing the fields.   Elisha came from a wealthy home.  For he and his servants to be plowing with 12 yoke of oxen showed great wealth.  To have one yoke of oxen was considered fortunate.   But 12 yoke was a sign of incredible wealth.

In our day, a farmer owning one $40,000 John Deere 4x4 tractor would be fortunate.  To have 12 sitting in his barn would show great wealth.

Elisha had grown up working.  He had learned to be faithful in the small things of his father’s household, and now God was about to call him to something greater.  Without a word, Elijah walked up and threw his cloak over the shoulders of Elisha, and then walked on.  Everyone knew who Elijah was and what he represented.  Elisha was stunned as the full impact of what had just happened settled in on him.  He ran after Elijah and said, ““Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said,  “and then I will come with you.”

 “Go back,” Elijah replied.  “What have I done to you?”

Now let me ask you; doesn’t that strike you as a bit odd?  I mean, this whole conversation just seems a bit surreal.  Very different. 

I’ve always tried to picture it in our day.  It would be like one of the great preachers of our day walking up and handing a young man their Bible and then turning around and walking off.   The young man perceives the message that he is to be the next great preacher…runs after him and says, “Ok…let me tell ma and pa goodbye and I’ll meet you at the car.”  And then the preacher says, “Go ahead, what have I done to you?”

At first reading, it strikes one as just a bit bizarre.  But let’s look deeper.  It is not really Elijah doing the calling.  It is God.  Elijah is just the mouthpiece.  Elisha knew God intimately himself, therefore, he recognized God’s call.  And so he was telling Elijah that he was going to tell his folks goodbye and then catch up.  Elijah also knew that it wasn’t his call, but God’s that Elisha was answering.  He knew that God always gives a choice as to whether one will answer the call or not.    So he was basically saying; “It’s not my call on your life, but God’s. I haven’t done anything to you except what God has instructed, so you take your time and make your decision.  If you answer the call, so be it.

Elisha goes back and instantly slaughters his yoke of oxen. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat, and then had a farewell meal with his family.  He had decided to respond to the call of God.  He left the wealth and comfort of his family to live the hardship life of a prophet, and he burned his past behind him. There was no going back.  He was now going to move forward for God.

Sometimes we come to those decisions in life where we have to either go back or go forward.   To go back to our comfort zones, or go forward for God.  Too many times we are like the rich young ruler of Jesus day found in Luke 18.  After being told that he must keep the commandments, and after having replied that he had done all of these things since his youth,  Jesus had this to say:

Luke 18:22 ¶ When Jesus heard this, he said to him,  “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Luke 18:23 ¶ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Which brings me to a question for us today, church.  What is it in your life that keeps you from responding to the call of God to move forward?