Articles
Dear, Fellow (Discouraged) Soldier
The life of a soldier is hard but honorable. There is a reason we hold men in armed services in such high regard. The constant exercise and discipline they endure all for the “greater good”; putting their lives on the line for others who may not even honor that sacrifice, ultimately; the fight that must be fought every single day — it is all incredibly noble.
How convicting, then, is it to read how God enlists us as soldiers when we are converted to Christ (2 Timothy 2:3-4; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:27)? Moreover, we’re entering into the greatest war ever fought (1 Timothy 1:18-19; 6:12). It should fortify our souls that God does not say we’ll have no part in it at all; rather, though He attains the victory, He says we are to play a part in this spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-17). Incredible!
In movies, books, and even historical events we get goosebumps when we hear soldiers or commanders ride to aid or even to certain death, all while confidently chanting for the honor of some leader, country, or even a concept like justice. Perhaps no greater speech has been given by an un-inspired writer than Winston Churchill’s address to the House of Commons after Britain had suffered a hard loss and was reconsidering their war efforts against Nazi Germany: “We shall go on to the end! We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender! And if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.” (Winston Churchill, June 4, 1940)
With words like these, Churchill reinvigorated an entire nation’s resolve to fight! More importantly, it was not unrealistic promises of comfort and peace that accomplished it, but an unrelenting resolve to never surrender for a greater cause. While not inspired by God this speech contains many of the characteristics and realities that soldiers of Christ must grasp to fight in this spiritual warfare of ours.
The Reality of War
In war there are bad days — and that’s an understatement. There are dark days; days of defeat; days of terrible setbacks; days of death; days where it seems as though all hope is lost. There is no exception in this spiritual war. Some soldiers of Christ are encountering physical persecution. Some are enduring the loss of familial or other close relationships. Others are suffering through illness not understanding why it has come upon them. More are wrestling with doubts that this fight is even worth it or that the victory is in sight. So why doesn’t Paul sound a little more sensitive when he says this to Timothy?
When Paul says to share or “suffer hardship with me,” it’s not because he doesn’t understand the heavy cost of this fight. He himself suffered intimidating things — from daily discomforts, to the worst of physical abuses (2 Corinthians 11:23-27), to even strong emotional turmoil (2 Corinthians 11:28; 12:9-10). But being a soldier, he was unwilling to surrender this cause. More than that, he was determined to die for it (2 Timothy 4:6-8). From Spiritual Food for Spiritual Thought “Dear, Fellow Discouraged Soldier” the beginning (2 Tim. 2:3-4) to the end (2 Tim. 4:6-8) of the letter Paul won’t let Timothy forget his spiritual military status, it seems for one reason, to march through the struggle that will inevitably come.
What About You, Fellow Soldier?
To the fellow soldier who is discouraged are you willing to “never surrender?” To the one who feels their evangelism has been useless, are you willing to continue to “storm the beaches” of the world? To the soldier who is struck with sickness, are you willing to keep marching on to the rally cry of “the slain Lamb?” To the soldier who is struggling with doubt, are you willing to “fight with growing confidence” in the sure message of “Christ and Him crucified?”
Discouragement can be lethal — even to a soldier. But it is not to the soldier who is unrelenting in his loyalty to King (Jesus) and country (Zion). And is not for the one fighting for a cause deemed too great to abandon (the Gospel) — so that regardless of setback, loss or even the notion of defeat he will suffer to the end.
Don’t be discouraged (Joshua 1:8-9), for even should we fight the good fight to death, every soldier of Christ will be vindicated in God’s good time.
