| Perhaps this is the problem
with American Christians today: we don't look at ourselves
as soldiers of the King. We know we are children of the King.
We understand that we are adopted by the King. We are sure
that we are saved by the King. We just don't realize that
we are soldiers of the King.
What's the difference? Lots. A child of the King knows the
King on an intimate basis - at least in a child-like way.
We can call Him "Daddy" - Abba Father. We share
in the rewards, the promises, and the inheritance of the Lord,
Jesus. We can know that once we were lost, but now we are
found. Like a street urchin - an "orphan Annie,"
found by our very own "Daddy Warbucks," we have
been adopted into a very wealthy family. We don't deserve
it. We didn't earn it. It was given to us.
What we don't see is that we are in a battle - not necessarily
personal, though sometimes it is - but spiritual. And, because
we don't see our enemy, we don't believe that one exists.
If we held M-16's in our hand and shot holes in a visible
enemy, it would be easier to understand. But the enemy of
our Father is not visible to us. No, he is too smart for that.
We don't even see (at least often) supernatural "events"
that tip us off to the presence of evil warriors. And what
we don't see can't hurt us. Right? Wrong.
If we saw a general in battle uniform stand before us on
Sundays, and our worship leader was dressed in fatigues, we
might begin to grasp the idea. If our Sunday school teachers
were to drill us in the use of pistols and rifles and bazookas
and tanks, perhaps we would take this affront to our existence
as something real. But we don't see that. We sit in our padded
pews or chairs, we worship in freedom, we come and go to church
when and where we want. We can even hold Bible studies in
our homes and have no problems. It is difficult for us to
see the danger around us.
But it is there. And it is real - more real than the M-16's
or tanks or Patriot missiles or biological weaponry. It is
more real than bombs dropping from multi-million dollar jets
onto airfields and enemy positions. It is more real than even
jumbo jets flying into skyscrapers. The battle we face is
so real that the cost of being captured is eternal death -
far more significant than dying in the flesh.
We are soldiers - and we need to act like it. We need to
cease being "on leave" taking our "R &
R" and report to duty! Only then will we begin to see
the victories we really want - the victories that really count
- the victories that save men's and women's souls. Hallelujah,
Amen and Amen
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