"Onward, Christian Soldier"

“Let us ...throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Hebrews 12:1

“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4

I remember getting to Fort Campbell and unloading off the buses. The DI’s (drill instructors) were waiting for us. They got in our faces and began screaming. They made it very clear right from the get go who the boss was – THEY were. When they were done establishing that fact – they marched us to the barbershop. Now you need to know, I had some beautiful hair in those days. It was traumatic losing it all. Some barber asked if I would like a little off the top. When I said ‘yes’ he handed me a handful of hair. Not very funny!

After that we double timed to supply and put on army clothes from head to foot. We no longer belonged to our mama’s. We belonged to the United States army. We were told what to wear, what to eat, when to sleep, when to get up, when to go to the bathroom. We were not our own. We had given ourselves to the United States Army.

We understand that. That all makes sense in retrospect. At the time it didn’t – but later we understood it. But if that is true in the military – why is it that so many Christians think they can enlist in the Lord’s army at their convenience and on their terms? If He is not Lord of everything – He’s not Lord at all! If He doesn’t have ALL your heart – He doesn’t have your heart – at ALL!

Too often we think we can have the best of both worlds. We can’t. Jesus said you can’t serve God AND money (or the world). One or the other is going to be your master. Paul said,

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Romans 6:16

What are you a slave to? Whom or what is you master? I remember what it was like to be mastered by something. I smoked 3 packs a day. I drank until I passed out. I smoked pot and lived in the flesh. I remember those days – and there is nothing about them I recall with fondness. I was a slave. I was hooked. I was addicted. And this Master of the world and flesh - for every ounce of pleasure, gives you a ton of pain. Why do it? It’s insane! It will kill you or hurt you physically, mentally, socially, and especially spiritually.

Some Christians think they can take an occasional drink, smoke an occasional joint, slip into a sexual sin occasionally – but whatever you surrender to is your master. I want Jesus to be my Master – not tobacco or booze or anything else. I want to be in the Lord’s Army – not the worlds.

Why is it that we do those things anyway? Because those things promise to do the things that only Jesus can do. Jesus is the creator of all that is good. Only Jesus can give us true pleasure. When we go to our substitute Christ’s – and that is what they are – Jesus can’t help us. We willingly get out from under His protection. We choose to go to alcohol or drugs for comfort. We choose to medicate ourselves instead of going to Jesus to meet our needs. If you are addicted to alcohol or pot or food or sinful sexual relationships or worldly entertainment– go to Jesus. Only He can free you. Only He can help you break the addictions. Only He can break the bonds of enslavement.