As Christians, we must always remember that we are at war. The body of Christ is filled with people who have taken their spiritual armor off because they have forgotten that every day we are in a battle against the devil. It is no wonder that Paul warns us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).
If you are a Christian, you have enlisted in the army of Christ. Whether you like it or not, you are a soldier. The only question left is what kind of soldier are you? We are encouraged to be good soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3). What does it take to be a good soldier of Christ? Paul tells us.
- Reliance on the Captain
Good soldiers do not question the captain’s orders or hesitate when he gives a command, they simply comply. This takes a great deal of faith and trust, but that is what we have in Christ because we know that we have the greatest Captain of all time. Our Commanding Officer is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and He has more power and ability than any foe that we will ever have to face. Our greatest adversary is the devil, but John said, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Believing this is what helps us to be good soldiers, allowing us to have complete reliance on our captain no matter how the battle is going.
- Staying in Shape
An out-of-shape soldier will not be able to handle the rigors and harshness of life on the battlefield. He is therefore a handicap to the overall cause and a danger to himself and the other soldiers on the battlefield. This is true spiritually as well. Our Captain cannot rely on us unless we are in tip-top condition spiritually. How do we get in good shape? First, by maintaining a proper diet of God’s Word.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Second, by engaging in proper exercise. Paul said, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Walking is a good way to exercise, both physically and spiritually, but we have to walk right. We must “walk worthy of our vocation (Ephesians 4:1) by walking by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), and by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
- Not Being Entangled by the World
Why are there so many spiritual casualties in this warfare? It is because too many of us lack focus. We allow the things of this world to distract us. A good soldier does not do this.
2 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)
4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
Soldiers at war are not involved in civilian pursuits. Warfare takes one’s total attention. Any kind of distraction could very easily result in death when on the battlefield. A good soldier has left behind his former life and is totally devoted to the cause at hand. We must have this same devotion in Christ. Today there are too many Christians who do not reach their full potential in Christ because they allow themselves to be entangled by civilian pursuits such as sports, politics, occupation, hobbies, family, etc. We must remain devoted to our mission. James said “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).
There is a battle raging right now, and we are a part of it. What kind of soldiers are we?
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.