Get In the Battle

... as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3)

I'm reading a book entitled "Eternal Impact" by Phil Downer. Phil will be speaking at the men's conference in North Canton on October 19-20 (see our church calendar). In reading his book I came across this nugget of wisdom. I share it with you in hopes that we all learn to stay in the battle - to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I believe every Christian is called to be a soldier for Christ on the front lines; if he stays in the rear, he will see his life detoured, discouraged, and even defeated. I tend to ascribe to the "soldier and donut" principle: a marine is trained to be a fighting man, not to sit around eating donuts. If he is assigned for long periods of time to the rear, he only gets into fights, gets drunk, contracts venereal disease, and gets busted. This happens because Marines are trained to stay in the battle. That's where their equipment works best, where their training is fulfilled, and where their lives are most useful.

The same is true of the Christian soldier. Our lives are best lived in the battle of winning and discipling businessmen - if that's our calling - or ministering to children, the aged, the infirm, or the imprisoned, if God directs that way. A Marine away from the battlefield constantly has to be reminded to keep his weapon clean, instructed on the chain of command, and counseled with respect to the important of teamwork and the countless other aspects of soldiering. however, one flash of enemy fire calls the Marine to war. All other problems are suddenly solved in a millisecond when he inhales the scent of battle.

Are you in the battle Christian, or are you in the rear, waiting and eating donuts?