Numerous times throughout the Bible, our spiritual life is compared to war. When you look at Paul’s letter to those in Corinth he says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). In Ephesians 6:10-17, we are given a list of the armor of God that we are supposed to wear entirely. So, If there is a spiritual war that is being waged, and we are to put on the armor of God, then we are soldiers fighting in this war. Furthermore, if we are soldiers, locked in battle with darkness, then Jesus Christ is our commander-in-chief.
Because we are soldiers of Christ, each and every one of us has a duty to fulfill. Second Timothy 2:4 says, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” This verse lays out a two-fold duty for the Christian. First, as a soldier of Christ, I am not to entangle myself with the affairs of every day; in other words, the things of the world. Ephesians 5:11 tells us, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” Second, we are shown that we have a duty to please the One who made us soldiers. That One is Jesus Christ who made us soldiers through His blood that washed away our sins. Not only does this verse list our duties, but tells us how to perform our duty. We are pleased to Christ when we do not associate with the cares of the world; and seeking to please, or in other words obey, Christ is how we separate ourselves from the world and be different.
Continuing forward, Christ, our commander, has given us a command. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” This is the command that has been given to us as well. I should bring others to Christ, whether in season or out of season; meaning that whether or not people are more inclined to accept it as truth, I will still speak of Christ and what He has done for me. Peter goes along with the command, but adds another element telling us in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” We must also be blameless and keep ourselves pure; we do that by abstaining from fleshly desires, and all the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21.
In conclusion, by baptism, we have been made to be soldiers of Christ. Because we are soldiers of Christ, we know that every day we are fighting in a spiritual war. We are defending ourselves and others from the snares of the devil, choosing rather keep ourselves pure. We are also setting out to defeat the devil by telling of Christ to all those around us, in hopes of persuading others to become fellow soldiers of Christ. Thus, if we will keep ourselves pure and preach to others, then we are also fulfilling the duty and commands of our leader, Jesus Christ, and we can be considered righteous servants.
Oren Caskey
