Even though Veteran’s Day is Friday, November 11, it’s important enough to celebrate it on this Sunday before the holiday. Unlike Memorial Day when we honor those who died while serving, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. Originally it was called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of WW I, on the 11th month, 11th day, 11 minutes after the 11th hour. But it was expanded in 1954 to honor and celebrate all who served in our Armed Forces during times of war and peace. We owe our veterans a great debt for their service, but I always include the loved ones of those who served. The ones who kept things going while we were away, and the ones who gave us the incentive to serve. So, thank you veterans, and those who supported them, for your service and your sacrifices.
This morning, let’s expand that term veteran to cover all those who have served, or are actively serving in the Lord’s Army as well. In His Army, Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12, that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The grim reality is that as soldiers in the Lord’s Army we face a continual battle. There is no peace time, only daily combat. And there is no honorable discharge from active duty during this lifetime, so we’re all veterans. For those who complete their tour of duty honorably, there are eternal benefits. Complete life insurance, no need of medical benefits because there will be no more sickness, no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain. In fact, the only scars in heaven will be on the hands of Christ welcoming His veterans home.
At my sides there are two flags. The American Flag, representing our country, and the Christian Flag representing our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, with His Cross imprinted on it. The Flag of His Church Triumphant. To serve in the army of either of these flags faithfully and effectively, and the kingdoms they represent, both have certain requirements. One has a spiritual focus, the other has physical requirements.
Recruitment into either army at present is voluntarily. There is no forced draft in America anymore. In God’s Kingdom, no one is ever forced to serve. Both send recruiters to encourage people to volunteer to serve. American recruiters target specific audiences, but Jesus invites each of us individually, “Come, follow Me”. But not everyone is fit to join. The American army requires passing of physical, mental, and character tests. Jesus tests our commitment. Like he did for the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and appeared willing to join the Kingdom Army but proved unfit..
Jesus tested his commitment, telling him to sell all he had and give it to the poor, and the man failed that test. Jesus had no use for worldly riches. They possessed the young man, but soldiers in Christ’s army must commit to Him. Effective soldiers in Christ’s command must be loyal, obedient, and have faith in Him alone. Jesus’ 12 disciples’ commitment meant voluntarily leaving their homes and careers to follow Jesus, 11 willingly gave their lives in His service.
As veterans in Christ’s army, we have additional duties as recruiters as well. Jesus sends us out as His recruitment officers to urge others to serve in His Army. As perhaps the top recruiter in Jesus’ army, Paul writes in 2 Cor. 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us”. As His recruiters, we are His ambassadors, speaking His words to others through His Holy Spirit.
Once new recruits commit to serve in the American military, they are sent to a boot camp, where they are given a new look, begin to learn about their new life, what’s expected of them, and begin training to become effective combatants. The recruit’s new look starts with a hair cut and new clothes before undergoing physical training. But Jesus’ new look focuses on the spirit. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” We become changed on the inside, which may even result in changes to our outer self. For instance, as a new creation, we may change our attitudes. We may choose to wear less offensive clothes that represent our Lord more appropriately. James tells us we should control our tongues, so we change the language that comes from within us. We find ourselves blessing, rather than cursing others. And we may be more careful about what we put into our body, which is now a Temple of the Holy Spirit. Such changes my cause us to love others more, becoming more understanding and forgiving.
I saw such a radical transformation when I was stationed on Guam and attended a mandatory Drug Awareness Seminar. There I met a 16 year old, petite girl who spoke to us about her hard life on drugs before she met Jesus. Connecting with some guys she had met in California, she went to Hawaii with them, but while hitchhiking on the island, she met an older couple who were like the ambassador-recruiters we talked about earlier. They talked to her, gave her their card, and invited her to call them if she ever needed help. Initially, she blew them off, but a few days later, she had gone to a party and found herself in a nightmarish drug scenario, and ran screaming, totally disoriented into the night.
Somehow she remembered the card from the older couple and called them, and they brought her to their home and cared for her. They talked to her more about Jesus, and in a few days, she accepted Christ into her life. As she talked to our group about her new life with her new friend Jesus, she had a passion burning within her, and although I was a committed Christian already, I envied her passionate faith as I talked with her more. She had gone from being an out of control, addicted teen to a neat, attractive 16 year old. Even though she had become a new creation, she still faced a long journey of healing with Jesus to reach complete wellness. But she had started her boot camp as a new creation, and was even now being transformed into a soldier for Christ.
Just as American military training requires a lot of classroom training and studying training manuals, Jesus’ boot camp requires church classroom training and studying the Bible as His basic training manual. Neither army affords its soldiers an end to their training, because the enemy is always lurking on its search and destroy missions. Jesus Himself went through basic training, preparing for His ministry. Immediately after His baptism, Satan began to test Him. He used Scripture, or should I say misused Scripture, to tempt Jesus. In His human form, Jesus had studied Scripture from his youth, and had been led by the Holy Spirit. And Satan was no match for Jesus. Jesus had proved Himself a combat tested, worthy Commanding Officer, ready to lead His soldiers into battle.
Our American military has produced some high quality leaders, such as General Colin Powell, whose books on leadership show his exemplary abilities and provide valuable training for soldiers. But Jesus’ lessons on leadership and wisdom, recorded in the Bible, are far beyond even those. While Jesus’ ministry is recorded in the Gospels, God’s teachings are woven throughout the entire Bible. Our OT lesson from the very first chapter of Isaiah is an important lesson for us as soldiers. The prophet Isaiah says we are to ‘wash and make ourselves clean’. Learn to do the right things, seek justice, defend the fatherless, care for the widow. Like the soldier in boot camp, we have become a new creation and are in training for the causes of our Commanding General Jesus. Isaiah further reveals God’s assurance that if we follow His orders, become willing and obedient, we will know victory. If not, we will be devoured by the sword. We won’t survive combat with the enemy without Him.
American military recruits don’t stay in boot camps for too long. They’re needed in the field to fight against the enemy. Graduates from boot camp are assigned to different areas of expertise. Some go to infantry units, some to tank corps, some to heavy weapons units, or ships, or planes. Just as Jesus’ recruit trainees go to various churches as pastors, teachers, lay speakers, administrators. It takes a variety of skills and continuing training for a church team to become an effective combat unit. And training continues to increase the effectiveness of Jesus’ army of churches. Church members, once new recruits, become seasoned veterans. Veterans who recruit others. Veterans who train less experienced veterans.
We see a great example of this in our NT lesson from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. Paul had met Timothy as a young man, who may have already been recruited as a disciple, and may have already undergone his “boot camp“ training. Calling him his “beloved and faithful child in the Lord”, he takes Timothy to his heart. Paul takes Timothy on mission trips, continuing to train him, before appointing him as his messenger to the unruly Corinthian church, and later as a pastor to the Ephesians. From Paul’s two Epistles to Timothy, our Scripture lesson is part of Paul’s encouraging words for his young protégé Timothy’s faith. The captain stooping to embrace the private.
Paul, writing from prison chains, encourages Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, inviting him to join in his suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. By this, Paul is saying that if Timothy is to follow in his mentor’s footsteps, he must look upon himself as one of the pioneers of Christ’s army, as a tried veteran, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, prepared for the dangers and trials which in those days awaited such a calling. Paul advises Timothy that no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Paul’s advice could have well been written to any of us. When we get tangled up in the messes of the world - false teachings, political commitments - our Commanding Officer is under the American flag instead of the Christian flag. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be involved in American responsibilities, like voting, or opposing the wrongs of society, and supporting the good things, but our first allegiance is as a veteran of Christ’s army. Wanting to please Him as our Commanding Officer. Then, what we do under the American flag should not entangle us and keep us from our Christian duty and faith.
In the military, the longer a soldier serves, the more experience and wisdom that veteran soldier possesses, and the more responsibilities can be given. And the more others, coming up through the ranks, can look to him/her for an example, for guidance, and for training. Like Paul was for Timothy.
We have been recruited into Christ’s Church, His army. We need to train daily to learn more about what pleases our Lord, preparing to fight against Satan’s army. To be true veterans continually striving to be better, stronger soldiers, not just bystanders. Proud veterans that follow our Commanding Officer out of love for Him, faith in Him, and loyalty to Him.
But there is one universal lesson to be learned by veterans of churches, soldiers, even sports teams. You have to keep your focus on the leader, and trust and obey that leader. Once the enemy takes the army’s focus away from it’s leader, and separates its veterans to choosing their own path, the army loses its cohesiveness and effectiveness. When churches don’t focus on Jesus, study His word, and work together as His church, Satan gains control.
When soldiers of Christ’s army, veterans of His church, march, in step, together, under His flag bearing the symbol of His Cross, it’s an awesome sight. No other army can stand against it. So, onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the Cross of Jesus, going on before. Amen
