Am I a Good Soldier?
Introduction. The Scriptures describe the victory over Satan, won by Jesus’ death on the cross, as complete. Satan’s head was “bruised” (Gen. 3:15)! Jesus “bound the strong man” (Mt. 12:29); “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive,” (Eph. 4:8), and “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). Through him we are “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). Jesus has “the keys of death and of Hades” (Rev. 1:18) and is now reigning as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 17:14).
Though cloaked in symbolism, John summed up what Jesus accomplished: “there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.” After this war was waged, Michael and his angels won: “they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." The victory in heaven was complete and final. “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them.” (Rev. 12:7-12)
What an amazing series of events must have occurred in heaven when Jesus returned victorious to sit on the throne. “Behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” (Dan. 7:13-14). With this verse, the eyes of our heart can be enlightened. After “He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight,” He came even to the ancient of days. When he was brought before the ancient of days, he was given dominion, glory and became the king of His kingdom. The Holy Spirit revealed these things in Peter’s first sermon. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God,” “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Acts 2:33-35). Paul also summed up what happened after Jesus returned to heaven. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” (Phil. 2:9). A symbolic description of these things is given in Revelation 5, which is listed at the end of this article
While there is now great joy in heaven, the circumstances here on the earth are revealed to be grave and dangerous. God pronounced a woe on those of us who are still on the earth. “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Rev. 12:13-17)
No matter how we interpret this symbolism, there is no doubt that God’s saints on the earth are in the midst of a life and death struggle! The Devil is ‘making war’ against those “that keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.’ In other places with less symbolism, we are warned that “the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.’ (1Pet. 5:8). “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:10-13). These things are not revealed to terrify us. We are still “more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” but must not be complacent since we are still in grave danger.
Paul exhorted and encouraged us by explaining “the weapons of our warfare are mighty before God,’ (2Cor. 10:4). We are not defenseless against these forces. We can “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” But if we want to prevail, we must “put on “ and “take up the whole armor of God, (Eph. 6:11), the “armor of righteousness" (2Cor. 6:7) and the “armor of light.” (Rom. 13:12). “Putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1Th. 5:8). All of this must be done with diligence “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” He warned Timothy to “war the good warfare” (1Tim. 1:18) and “suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Tim. 2:3).
Many of the songs we sing describe both the battle and the preparation. “Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armor on.” “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.” “ Encamped along the hills of light ye Christian soldiers rise.” “in battle we must trod,” “the fight is on arouse ye soldiers brave and true,” “soldiers of the cross,” “the fight is on O Christian soldier,” “The cry ‘to arms’ is heard afar and near.” Yet when we sing these songs, does our heart make melody with the above Scriptures, or are we only singing figures of speech and poetic images with no real response in our heart?
As we arise in the morning is there any sense of urgency? Do we consider whether our armor is on and whether we will be victorious in any of the battles we will fight today? Does this vocabulary seem a little strange to us? Carefully think about Paul’s words to Timothy as his life drew to a close. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2Tim. 2:3-5).
Singing about being a soldier is a very different thing from being a “soldier enduring hardship.” When children pretend to be soldiers, they use a breastplate, shield and sword made out of plastic. After their pretended battle they move on to something else. Since there are no real dangers for them, they are only playing. What about us? Are we a true soldier or just singing or reading about being one? The dangers are real and grave. Is our sword, shield, and breastplate mighty spiritual weapons of our warfare or about as strong and valuable as plastic?
We are in a war and our adversaries are strong and cunning. If we truly wish to be a “soldier brave and true,” we must “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Our part in all this is simple. We must be diligent as we “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Conclusion. We are at war, soldiers in a life and death struggle with our eternal life to be gained or lost. These are realities we cannot deny. We fight a “spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12). That wicked host is fighting and waging war in deadly earnest. They know the time is short and they want to do as much damage as possible. Our time is also short. If we want to do as much good as possible, we must heed the warning.
Though cloaked in symbolism, John summed up what Jesus accomplished: “there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.” After this war was waged, Michael and his angels won: “they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." The victory in heaven was complete and final. “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them.” (Rev. 12:7-12)
What an amazing series of events must have occurred in heaven when Jesus returned victorious to sit on the throne. “Behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” (Dan. 7:13-14). With this verse, the eyes of our heart can be enlightened. After “He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight,” He came even to the ancient of days. When he was brought before the ancient of days, he was given dominion, glory and became the king of His kingdom. The Holy Spirit revealed these things in Peter’s first sermon. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God,” “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Acts 2:33-35). Paul also summed up what happened after Jesus returned to heaven. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” (Phil. 2:9). A symbolic description of these things is given in Revelation 5, which is listed at the end of this article
While there is now great joy in heaven, the circumstances here on the earth are revealed to be grave and dangerous. God pronounced a woe on those of us who are still on the earth. “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Rev. 12:13-17)
No matter how we interpret this symbolism, there is no doubt that God’s saints on the earth are in the midst of a life and death struggle! The Devil is ‘making war’ against those “that keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.’ In other places with less symbolism, we are warned that “the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.’ (1Pet. 5:8). “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:10-13). These things are not revealed to terrify us. We are still “more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” but must not be complacent since we are still in grave danger.
Paul exhorted and encouraged us by explaining “the weapons of our warfare are mighty before God,’ (2Cor. 10:4). We are not defenseless against these forces. We can “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” But if we want to prevail, we must “put on “ and “take up the whole armor of God, (Eph. 6:11), the “armor of righteousness" (2Cor. 6:7) and the “armor of light.” (Rom. 13:12). “Putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1Th. 5:8). All of this must be done with diligence “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” He warned Timothy to “war the good warfare” (1Tim. 1:18) and “suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Tim. 2:3).
Many of the songs we sing describe both the battle and the preparation. “Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armor on.” “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.” “ Encamped along the hills of light ye Christian soldiers rise.” “in battle we must trod,” “the fight is on arouse ye soldiers brave and true,” “soldiers of the cross,” “the fight is on O Christian soldier,” “The cry ‘to arms’ is heard afar and near.” Yet when we sing these songs, does our heart make melody with the above Scriptures, or are we only singing figures of speech and poetic images with no real response in our heart?
As we arise in the morning is there any sense of urgency? Do we consider whether our armor is on and whether we will be victorious in any of the battles we will fight today? Does this vocabulary seem a little strange to us? Carefully think about Paul’s words to Timothy as his life drew to a close. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2Tim. 2:3-5).
Singing about being a soldier is a very different thing from being a “soldier enduring hardship.” When children pretend to be soldiers, they use a breastplate, shield and sword made out of plastic. After their pretended battle they move on to something else. Since there are no real dangers for them, they are only playing. What about us? Are we a true soldier or just singing or reading about being one? The dangers are real and grave. Is our sword, shield, and breastplate mighty spiritual weapons of our warfare or about as strong and valuable as plastic?
We are in a war and our adversaries are strong and cunning. If we truly wish to be a “soldier brave and true,” we must “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Our part in all this is simple. We must be diligent as we “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Conclusion. We are at war, soldiers in a life and death struggle with our eternal life to be gained or lost. These are realities we cannot deny. We fight a “spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12). That wicked host is fighting and waging war in deadly earnest. They know the time is short and they want to do as much damage as possible. Our time is also short. If we want to do as much good as possible, we must heed the warning.
- Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (Eph. 6:10-18)
- I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Rev 5:11-13