Enduring Hardness like a Soldier
As a pastor, I often meet with Christians who are in the midst or troubling circumstances. Often they are confused by the presence of trouble. They say, “But I’ve been faithful, and I do everything I know to do and yet I still get tested.” Our redemption was not a cheap thing. Faith is not the absence of troubles; it’s how we handle them.
2 Timothy 2:3-6 says, “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.” (NIV) The Bible is comparing our Christian lives to that of a soldier. Verse 7 goes on to say, “Reflect on what I am saying…” So the Bible instructs us to consider the mentality of a soldier in handling circumstances.
A soldier is not a civilian. The first thing that happens to a new soldier is that he is stripped of all signs of civilian life. His hair gets shaved, he is given several inoculations, and he is given a new uniform. Upon receiving Christ, our sins are removed and we are given a measure of the Holy Spirit. The old life dies and we enter into service for God. A soldier will look at his new uniform and realize it wasn’t made for comfort. He will realize that the uniform he now wears will make him a target. His life will be consumed by what he has pledged to defend. Loyalty is now a matter of survival. If he deserts his company and tries to rejoin his former life, he will get hurt. It is the same thing for believers: The trials you are facing are trying to get you to sever your loyalty to Christ and to return to your former life. Loyalty is now a requirement if you are going to stay under the protection of His army.
A soldier doesn’t enter the battlefield and get surprised by bullets being fired at him. He understands the battlefield dynamic. A soldier doesn’t feel like a victim. He doesn’t get his feelings hurt because people are out to hurt him. A soldier doesn’t take a time out from battle because somebody insulted them. He doesn’t stand up and say, “Time out! Stop the shooting, somebody has hurt my feelings and I need some time to recover.” The enemy doesn’t stop firing their guns because you have hurt feelings. Strap on your boots, pull them on tight, and let’s go! Soldiers don’t always get an apology before they move on. And neither will we. I can’t remember the last time I asked for an apology. I simply forgave the person before they had the chance. That’s what God did: He forgave us before we asked His forgiveness.
A soldier doesn’t expect ground to be given to him; He takes ground. In the same way, don’t expect the blessings of God to fall on you like ripe fruit off a tree. You have to take it, believe it, and say it. A soldier is somebody who survives on his training. Proper Bible training is life or death for Christians. Soldiers are formed by their habits. And so are Christians. People struggle because of their lack of good spiritual habits. So don’t be surprised when you face trials. Soldiers didn’t join the military thinking they were going to Club Med.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
