July 2008

During the Battle of the Bulge, the Allied soldiers fought ferociously to resist the German counter-attack. Everything seemed to be in short supply as the German army attempted to surround the Allied forces. Food, clothing, fuel were rationed more than usual, but the most important shortage facing our soldiers during mat time was experienced fighting men. It was not that the rookie soldiers had not been trained, but they often lacked the mindset that would allow them to survive on the battlefield. The first few days were the toughest. A new recruit might be in his foxhole and realize that he needed something from supply. He would jump out of the foxhole and be shot almost immediately. Being careless around meals or during down times could also be fatal. The veteran soldiers knew that if the recruits could survive through the first week, they would be all right. By that time they would be thinking like a soldier and would not place themselves needlessly in harm's way. They would be aware of the enemy at all times whether or not they had a weapon in their hands. The troops could not afford to be part-time soldiers when there was a full time war going on. A lull in the fighting might tempt them to believe the danger was less, but if they let their guard down for just a moment they could pay for it with their lives. No matter what task they were involved in; they had to remember that first and foremost, there was an enemy out there that wanted them dead.

As followers of Christ, we are involved in a war. Paul tells us that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but "against principalities and powers" in the universe. In America, the freedom we have been given to worship God as we wish is truly amazing.  It has been part of our culture for over two centuries, and has been so seamless that we take it for granted. The downside of this is that we are tempted to forget that we are involved in a war at all. As in the military, forgetting can be fatal. I grew up being taught that we lived in a Christian nation. If it were true then, it certainly is not true now. We currently live in a culture that tolerates those who are followers of Jesus Christ while trying desperately to disarm them. As an exercise, spend an evening watching television, paying special attention to the commercials. What do they teach? What do they promise? According to them, what should we be pursuing?

Our culture teaches us that our happiness comes from possessing the right products, hooking up with the right person and if we are not happy, nothing is more important than fixing that. This is the enemy, for God calls us to battle the culture that has separated itself from God. God calls us to be dependent on Him, to be willing to die to self and live to God. Our society calls us to die to God and to pursue long life with all the gusto we can.

The problem is, I am often attracted to what the enemy is offering. I want to forget that I am a soldier, peek over the foxhole and see what is there. I want to trade that which is forever for something that is temporary, something that promises what it cannot deliver. I have to remember who I am. I am a soldier, chosen by God to fight the most important battle. If I can remember who I am and who the enemy is, I know I will be victorious.