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Growing up, I always wondered what it would be like to join the marine corps and put my life on the line to defend the country. If I’m being honest, I've always wanted to be a hero and I assumed that joining the marines would help with this dream. As I got older, however, the reality set in of what it actually meant to join the Marines.
My grandpa fought in Vietnam and has three purple hearts to prove his dedication and commitment along with huge scars running down the side of his leg. Hearing about his stories helped me understand that joining the military was more than wearing a uniform and getting respect at the local Walmart. It means missing out on family events -- potentially missing out on your kids’ events, all to sacrifice for the country you believe in. On top of that, the Marines are known for being some of the toughest people on the planet, ready to face anything -- the cold, the heat, and even being thrown in the middle of a jungle.
In my lifetime, I haven’t seen war in my home country. So this allowed me to fantasize about what it would be like in the Marines. However, as I look at the war between Russia and Ukraine, I see the soldiers have been battling for a year. That means a year spent away from family, a year away from friends, and 365 days straight of not knowing whether they will live or die each moment. Am I ready for this type of commitment, knowing that each breath I take could possibly be my last? This is what it means to be a soldier.
I believe we can all agree that if anyone joins the military, these are the things that can be expected. In contrast, when we think of Jesus and everything He went through, somehow we don't expect these things.
"14 [For many the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him.] His face and His whole appearance were marred more than any man’s, and His form beyond that of the sons of men—but just as many were astonished at Him," - Isaiah 52:14 AMPC
Yet, Jesus Himself was a commander of an army, except His mission on earth was to die for each and every one of us.
"52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must come about this way? 55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs as [you would] against a robber to capture Me? Day after day I was accustomed to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56 But all this has taken place in order that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted Him and, fleeing, escaped." - Matthew 26:52-56 AMPC
Likewise, Paul also championed the phrase of being soldiers for that very same Jesus Christ. He devoted himself to the greatest country ever formed — The Kingdom of Heaven.
"3 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him." - 2 Timothy 2:3-4 AMPC
As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, our job is to constantly defend what we believe in, being ready at a moment's notice to leave a career, depart from family and sometimes even face imprisonment and death.
"24 Five times I received from [the hands of] the Jews forty [lashes all] but one; 25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been aboard a ship wrecked at sea; a [whole] night and a day I have spent [adrift] on the deep; 26 Many times on journeys, [exposed to] perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from [my own] nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as believers [but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety]; 27 In toil and hardship, watching often [through sleepless nights], in hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold and exposure and lack of clothing. 28 And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care and anxiety for all the churches!" - 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 AMPC
When we pledge allegiance to the cross of Christ, we are potentially signing up for a loss of relationships, loss of finances, loss of special occasions, and sometimes a loss of life. Jesus was and is adored by many people, but when it comes to walking the same path that He was and is on, only a few people have what it takes to follow Him.
"22 [Jesus] journeyed on through towns and villages, teaching, and making His way toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone asked Him, Lord, will only a few be saved (rescued, delivered from the penalties of the last judgment, and made partakers of the salvation by Christ)? And He said to them, 24 Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door [again and again], saying, Lord, open to us! He will answer you, I do not know where [what household—certainly not Mine] you come from." - Luke 13:22- 25 AMPC
Jesus showed us what it looks like to completely lay our life down, and He expects us to build on the example and foundation that He set for us.
"19 Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. 20 You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]." - Ephesians 2:19-21 AMPC
The call of Christ is to give your life to Someone that gave His life for you.
"20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:20 AMPC
We see in scripture that there are many people in Heaven crying out for God to avenge them because their lives were taken by enemies of God. The reality is that when we give ourselves to God we are signing up as light to fight the darkness of the world. In many cases, someone will do whatever it takes to put an end to the light we carry. This is the call of Christ, not to blend in, not to compromise, but to glorify Him in our everyday lives through sacrificing comfort and for some of us, to glorify Him even with our death.
"10 They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth? 11 Then they were each given a long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been." - Revelation 6:10-11 AMPC
The interesting thing about this verse is that God expects more of His loyal followers' blood to be spilled. So if He's expecting more of His soldiers to die, it would be naive to think that He isn't expecting everyone else to live as though they have already died as well.
When we die we leave everything behind -- our families, our careers, all of our desires. Some will physically die for the calling of Christ, but God expects the rest of us to continue living as though we have already died for the cross.
We all know about God and admire Jesus, but the question that comes to mind is, does God consider you a solider for Christ?
"36 Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. 37 They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, 38 wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them! - Hebrews 11:36-38 CJB
Question of the Day: Are you ready to fight the good fight?