We shall engage the apostle Paul to be our guide/instructor; he is a seasoned old “Soldier of the Cross” and of the Lord Jesus. Quiet! I think I can hear him speaking now!

        “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” I Cor. 11:1. Follower: mimetes, imitator. (Mimetes is the source of our word mime or mimic.) It is to follow the example of, mirror, act like, do like, reflect. (Paul is no wise attempting to recruit others to be his disciple/followers, but followers of Christ.) In dealing with this very issue, Paul confronted the Corinthian church: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” I Cor. 1:12.

The Life of a Soldier.

A Soldier is Enlisted.

        “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” II Tim. 2:3,4. Not a draftee! Hand-picked by the Commander-in-chief! All should be familiar with West Point [United States Military Academy] The site for its construction (50 miles above New York City on the Hudson River) was chosen by George Washington; Thomas Jefferson signed into legislation its establishment on March 16, 1802. It remains the oldest military school in the U.S. There are currently 4,000 cadets in the Academy. They are appointed by members of Congress and nominated by the Vice President. What a responsibility to be taken upon the shoulders of one who would be selected to be a West Point cadet! He must not “entangle himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” How lightly we are prone to respond in regard to our Divine appointment! The spiritual warfare against the god of this world is no longer regarded in solemnity: men have ceased to take God seriously. If the West Point cadet takes his appointment with the utmost gravity, how much the more should we also, who have been chosen as soldiers in the Army of the Lord, by our Commander-in-chief, the Captain of our faith?

A Soldier is Not Ashamed.

        Can you imagine a West Pointer being accosted by someone who asks of his position or employment? And the young soldier bows his head and mumbles, I’m stationed at the United States Military Academy; I’m a West Point cadet. Ludicrous! It won’t happen! (At least, not if he is the true and diligent soldier he portrays!)

        “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:” Rom. 1:16a. “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians;” Rom. 1:14. “Wherefore I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” II Tim. 1:11. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:” II Tim. 1:12.

        Paul is not ashamed of the gospel [of proclaiming the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners]; neither is he ashamed to suffer persecution, ridicule, rejection, bodily injury, prison. . .What a dedicated soldier! Paul is ready: ready to live for Him, ready to suffer for (with) Him, ready to die for Him! Listen to this old soldier of Christ: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” Phil. 3:10. Paul, a soldier who would be accepted and approved of any Commander-in-chief! “I follow after. . .that I may apprehend. . .reaching forth unto those things which are before. . .I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling [ as a soldier?] of God in Christ Jesus” Phil. 3:12-14.

        Unto Timothy and also for our own profit and admonition he writes: “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” II Tim. 1:8. Paul here echoes his challenge, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

A Soldier Believes in a Cause.

        The soldier is an ambassador for his country. He goes through rigorous training, learns to obediently carry out commands, puts his life on the line, and gives some of the best years of his life in the service of his country. The Commander says, Come, follow me: and he hangs up the fishing nets; leaves behind father and mother; and follows Him to distant shores.

        David, as a young “soldier” contended with his brothers as he heard the cursing of a giant named Goliath being directed against the God of Israel. He was only a lad and had no business being there with the “seasoned soldiers” of Israel! But David said, “Is there not a cause?” I Sam. 17:29. “And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. vs. 32. A unanimous answer was given by all: “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth” vs.33. But this shepherd/soldier said: “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. . .The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” I Sam.17:34,35,37. And we know the rest! David’s trust was not in the power of his sling nor the stone he held in his hand; it was in the Rock of Ages! And I question whether he could even see the giant: the Son was in his eyes!

A Soldier Trusts His Leadership.

        A soldier may be on the field in some isolated spot, totally unaware of anything that is going on elsewhere. He must trust the Commander who is able to see the “big picture.” “He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,” to whom “the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers”- certainly has a panoramic view, doesn’t He? “His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing to hid from the heat thereof” Psalm 19:6. There are those who have declared, The strength of the army is in it’s soldiers. Concerning the kingdom of God; The strength of the soldiers is in the Lord! “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Eph. 6:10. Strong, power, might. Three little words that describe our Great Commander-in-chief!

        What would you think of a commander-in-chief who would cut his army from 32 thousand down to three hundred? What if these 300 were all buglers? What if their weaponry consisted of pitchers and lamps? What if, armed with these pitchers and lamps, they all sounded the trumpets for battle? Such was the case of Gideon and the Israelites in their battle/victory over the Midianites! If you’re going to be a soldier in such an army, you’d best trust your General and his Commander-in chief!

        But a military commander, after all, is but a man, and a man is capable of an error in judgment; but give him the benefit of a doubt. With the Lord, there is no doubt concerning either error nor judgment. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, [ pure: in a phys., chem., cerem., or moral sense] enduring forever: The Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” Psalm 19:7-9.

A Soldier Undergoes Training.

        The term, “Boot Camp” was coined many years ago, and has been adopted by the military. The name “boot” was given to the new inductees, thereby the name “Boot Camp.”

        “Study [give all diligence to the task at hand] to show thyself approved [holy, acceptable,] unto God, [the Captain of our faith] a workman [ a soldier, being trained, becoming skilled, preparing for battle] that needeth not to be ashamed [dishonoring himself, and were it possible, his Commander also.] rightly dividing the word of truth [ let him wield the sword with the skill of a surgeon; be his weaponry an arrow or a gun, let him shoot straight; always keeping his eye fixed on the target.] II Tim. 2:15. In rightly dividing the Word of truth the “target,” the “object” (of our faith) must be the Lord Jesus!

        Many churches have training or “discipleship” programs - at least some still seem to be attempting it. But many new believers are pretty much left to themselves. Hopefully some dear Brother or Sister will sense their need and take them under their wings. Would the concept of having a “Boot Camp” for the young inductees be a foolish undertaking? How shall they ever be good “soldiers of the cross?” How great, the casualties and wounded in an army that is sent forth into battle without training in the skills of warfare! Of course, eight weeks of “Boot Camp” does not necessarily make one a soldier - but it gets him started out on the right foot!

A Soldier is Tested.

        The military is notorious for its “War Games.” Simulated battles are an important part of their curriculum. The soldier is brought face to face with almost every conceivable circumstance. How he reacts to adverse conditions can well be a deciding factor when he is confronted with the enemy in a life and death situation. So he is pushed - and hard. Weakness and insecurity breed fear; and fear can cause a soldier to leave his position and run, which may greatly endanger himself and his buddies and jeopardize their defensive position. But other things may test the soldier: is he stationed near by; is he in Iraq or another problematic land? Is his position one of a safer mode, or is he on the front line of confrontation? Is his assignment of a temporary nature, or will it continue for many months? Is he under the command of an officer who is due the utmost respect, or one with whom he must inwardly struggle in order to maintain a good attitude? Jesus Himself was tested (without sin); many times in the midst of the rabid Pharisees; and then alone in the wilderness with Satan. Whether on foreign soil or at home and in the fellowship of a local body of believers - we are not exempt from testing. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” I Cor. 16:13. Again, Paul, our guide/instructor leads us forth with words of wisdom and warning.

        There was a day when Israel went against the Philistines and in the course of battle, four thousand of the armies of Israel were slain. “And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies” I Sam. 4:3. (The elders of Israel mistakenly thought to harness the power of God; to place as it were, a bridle on the Most Holy. The horse would not pull the cart; the cart would push the horse!) Notice, they said, “when it [the ark] cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” The Lord hath smitten us, but the presence of the Ark will overrule that which the Lord has done? What kind of reasoning is that? The ark was brought into the camp. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. . .woe unto us!” vs. 7. Just as they were about to give up the battle, some unknown, unexplainable Voice came out of nowhere: “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, [act like men] and fight” vs. 9. Strange indeed, that this “Voice” should be so convincing, so compelling, that the Philistines fought with renewed vigor and slew another thirty thousand of the Israeli foot soldiers! To add insult to injury, the ark of the covenant was taken by the Philistines. The Jews had rationalized that its presence “may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” But it was no more than a religious act. The truth was that Israel was depending on the arm of the flesh and of human contrivance and not upon God - ark or no ark.

        Dear reader, let us never presume to take things in our own hands - especially God - He is not a computer program into which we can feed information, and predict what the outcome will be! Let us not follow Israel’s example of how to be a “soldier of the Lord” - well, at least, not on this occasion!

A Soldier is Equipped for Battle.

        (Calvin says: “Those who are strong only in fervor and sharpness, but are not fortified with solid doctrine, weary themselves in their vigorous efforts, make a great noise. . .make no headway because they build without a foundation.”)

        We have truth to girt about our loins; we have righteousness as a breastplate; we have the gospel of peace as shoes for our feet; we have the shield of faith to protect us from the poisonous darts of the wicked [one]; our salvation is as a helmet to our heads; the word of God is a sword, skillfully wielded by the Spirit. . .”that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” II Tim. 3:17. Now, let’s put it on! “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God. . .Put on the whole armour of God” Eph. 6:13,11. ( I fear that many times we ask of God that we might receive more grace; more of His provision: when He could in all fairness say, You do not now, need more - you need to use what I’ve already provided!)

        It was the time when kings went to battle: King David should have gone with his armies; they needed his leadership, his support. David was a warrior, a military man: there were yet other “Goliaths” spewing forth blasphemies against the God of Israel. He should have put on his armor and gone forth to battle. But David stayed behind. His armor stood polished in a corner of his chamber. He did not need it; after all, there was no battle to be fought in the king’s chamber - was there? Oh, David! “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil!” Dear friend, the battle is not over, and will not be until “that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” II Thes. 2:8. The armor is not to be removed - ever. There is no cloakroom in the vestibule of the church where it may be taken off and left until the service is ended!

A Soldier Knows His Enemy.

        A good soldier should have a keen interest in his foe; to be aware of his strategies, of his tactics. The enemy is not to be taken for granted; he has little use for prisoner-of-war camps. His goal is not for life and liberty, rather defiance and death.

        “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Eph. 6:12.

        “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” Job 1:6,7. Time passes. Satan has done his worst to take away Job’s children, his servants, his wealth. “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence cometh thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” vs. 2:1,2. Soldier of Christ, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” I Peter 5:8. He’s still walking to and fro, up and down in the earth, looking for yet another “Job” that he may overcome and utterly devour. Therefore we are warned, “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” vs. 9.

While the ploys of the terrorists are ever in the news and their threats are certainly not to be taken lightly, may we strongly be advised that the “terrorist” of all terrorists is to be discovered throughout the scriptures - his name is Satan. And no “Homeland Security” can protect against him, for his warfare is conducted primarily within the heart of man.

A Soldier Stays Ready.

        “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you” II Cor. 12:15. Here we see the readiness; not only readiness, but willingness of Paul to wholly give of himself unto others for the sake of Christ and of the Gospel. Thus, the putting into practice of the old expression, ready and willing. (Obviously, one cannot be ready until he is first willing!) Actually, the phrase is “ready, willing, and able,” And the enabling is to be from our Lord: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” Let not the verse be slighted and passed over because of its familiarity!

        “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also” Rom. 1:15. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” II Tim.4:6. Paul was settled in mind, in heart, and in will to do the bidding of his Lord.

“All that depends on me is eager, i.e., for my part, I am ready”. . .The contrast implied is that between willing (which Paul on his part is equal to) and carrying out the will (which depends on God.) Wuest, quoting Denny.

        “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” II Tim. 4:2. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” Rom. 12:12. Notice, we are instructed, to be instant in preaching and instant in prayer! (After being beaten and put into the stocks, in the midnight hour, Paul and Silas “prayed, and sang praises unto God” Acts 16:25. Some might think that to have been “out of season!”)

The words, “be instant” are from a word which means “to stand by, be present, to be at hand, to be ready” (epistemi). . . “Continuing instant” is proskartereo, to persevere, to give constant attention to a thing, to be devoted or constant to one, to be stedfastly attentive to, to give unremitting care, to wait on continually, to be in constant readiness for one. The word is used of the soldier who waited on Cornelius continually (Acts 10:7), and of the Twelve who said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer” (Acts 6:4).

Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Vol.1, page 215, Wuest.

A Soldier is Endowed with Courage.

        “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and thou seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee. . .Hear O Israel. . .let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” Deut. 20:1,3,4. “What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart” Deut. 20:8. Such is wise counsel. It is certain that one man can spread his fear and faintheartedness to others like a plague. The tide can turn, the battle be lost, because of a few soldiers who have not courage to stand. Let us show courage before weaker brethren; let us renew them to strength in the Lord, and not allow them to render us fainthearted. Paul gives instruction to Timothy: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation [behavior], in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” I Tim. 4:12. ( This is good advise for us old timers, too!) You are the best (perhaps only) Christian somebody knows. He or she has, from watching you, a picture of what they think a Christian really is.

        David was a man of war, and it is reasonable that he should charge his son, “Solomon: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” I Chron, 28:20.

A Soldier is Obedient.

        Just how important is it for one to maintain obedience? And what effect could it possibly have on others? Let’s say that Adam was a soldier, and that his continued obedience was essential in the security of his position; that obedience was necessary to hold the enemy ( that old serpent, the devil) at bay. The battle was not a battle of swords and spears, but of the mind, of the spirit, and of the will. It was a tactical warfare, and Satan would sneak an enemy (the serpent) into the camp with the intent of stirring up strife and bringing questions into the minds of the Edenic soldiers.

        “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” Rom. 5:19.

King Saul was quick to make sacrifices, but slow to obey. To obey is better than sacrifice. “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” Psalm 51:17. The example is given of the old “wild west” and an untamed stallion who is to be made ready for use in the U.S. Calvary: his whole body trembles with massive strength and the cowboy/soldier may labor in vain to lasso him and get him saddled to ride. The horse is broken; his body still trembles; his strength is just as it was; but he stands willingly and obediently waiting for his master’s command. The horse was in all rights, a four-footed soldier! (A poor example; for we, unlike the horse, are in ourselves, without strength.) “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle” Psalm 32:8,9.

A Soldier Goes beyond the Call of Duty.

        Going the extra mile. II Samuel chapter 23 gives account of three mighty men who served David. One was Adino the Eznite: “he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.” After him was Eleazar the Aholite; “he smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave to the sword.” After him was Shammah the Hararite. “He stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” David was in the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. “And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men [though weary from their intense fighting] brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. (II Sam. 23:8-16, ref.) David may yet have been thirsty, but dare we say that he was refreshed in the three soldiers who went “beyond the call of duty” in his behalf. Further, those three mighty men must have been refreshed at having the opportunity to go the extra mile in behalf of their Commander-in-chief!

        Jesus “went the extra mile” to reach Jacob’s well at Samaria. He asked drink of the woman who came there to draw, but there is no indication that she ever gave him of the water. Yet when the disciples returned, they found him refreshed! In giving unto her of the fountain of the water of life, He was renewed! May we be found going beyond the call of duty! May we likewise go the extra mile! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” Gal. 6:9.

A Soldier is a Sentry.

        The title of sentry has many alternate names: that of sentinel, lookout, protector, watchman, scout, spotter, guard, keeper, safeguard, and defender, to list a few.

        A sentry found asleep at his post has all but committed the unpardonable sin! Danger does not usually announce itself in advance, but arrives suddenly, without warning. A watchful sentry with a keen eye may sound the alarm, allowing the garrison a call to arms to quickly engage the oncoming enemy lest in their sleep they be overpowered and conquered. (One may “count sheep” if his desire is to sleep - but if he must needs stay awake, let him talk to the Shepherd!)

        Looking again at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are reminded that we are appointed sentinels and watchmen unto the house of faith: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” Eph. 6:18.

        “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him” Gen. 4:8. In all likelihood, Abel was watching, praying, persevering in behalf of his wayward brother. He attempted to reason with him concerning repentance toward God, of faith, of obedience, of willing submission to a God who is longsuffering in mercy and grace. . .but he rose up against his brother and slew him; not because he hated his brother, but because of his enmity against a Holy God. “They that hate me without a cause” Psalm 69:4.

        We spoke earlier of the soldier “knowing his enemy.” Our focus was basically on the “enemy without.” But there is yet another enemy; that of the “enemy within.” It is to this enemy that God set aside the prophet Ezekiel. “Son of man, I have made [called, commissioned] thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me” Ezek. 3:17. The warning: “if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul” vs.19. “Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul” Ezek. 3:19-21.

A Soldier is an Overcomer.

        In chapter 29 of the book of I Samuel, David had found great favor in the eyes of Achish, king of Gath; but the princes of the Philistines were suspicious of him and refusing any alliance with him or his company, sent him away. Upon returning to Ziklag ( David’s residence for a year and 4 four months per Achish,) they found the city burned at the hand of the Amalekites and their wives and daughters taken captive. “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” I Sam. 30:6. “And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them; and without fail, recover all” I Sam. 30:8.

        A soldier, isolated from those he loves in a foreign land may experience waves of intense loneliness. And as the critics (at home and abroad) rage against the war and his being there, he may question the validity of their claims. Be he a soldier in the wilderness or a Commander-in-chief in the White House, a soldier is subject to tribulations. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest” II Cor. 4:8-10. Paul, even as David, encouraged himself in the Lord his God!

        “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; (1) “to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life” Rev. 2:7; (2) “he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” 2:11; (3) “to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna; and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written” 2:17; (4) “he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” 2:26; (5) “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. . .I will confess his name before my Father” 3:5; (6) “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God. . .I will write upon him the name of my God. . .the name of the city of my God [New Jerusalem], I will write upon him my new name” 3:12; (7) “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” 3:21; (8) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” 21:7. My dear friend, encourage yourself in the Lord your God!

A Soldier Finishes Well.

        Paul wrote this familiar passage: “The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:17b. Paul fulfilled what he wrote: “I have kept the faith” II Tim. 4:7b.

“I have kept the faith.” “The faith” here is the deposit of truth with which God has entrusted Paul. The word “kept” (tereo) means “to keep by guarding.” Again, the apostle uses the perfect tense. His work of safe-guarding that truth is now at an end. He has defended it against the attacks of the Gnostics, the Judaizers, and the philosophers of Athens. He has now laid it at the feet of his Captain. He, like a soldier who has grown old in the service of his country, is awaiting his discharge.

Weust

        “I have kept the faith.” “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” Psalm 119:11. The Psalmist has done so, for Thy Word is precious; a treasure to be highly esteemed. But it is not a treasure to be hoarded. One way of keeping it is by sharing it with others; giving it away! It does seem logical that as we are giving it out, our capacity for Christ is being increased: you know; “Give, and it shall be given to you. . .” Luke 6:38. I know; it’s saying that “men shall give into your bosom.” Shall our God do otherwise? Shall He not “practice what He preaches?”

A Soldier is Recognized for his Service.

        A valiant soldier who has “gone beyond the call of duty” may receive a Purple Heart, the Congressional Medal of Honor, or other distinguished decorations. He will stand before his commander and receive a public commendation. As for Paul, that old Soldier of the Cross, I suspect the same! These words of Jesus might well apply: “His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt.25:21. No, Paul will not receive a Purple Heart for his valor: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing” II Tim. 4:8.

        In the book of Acts we are told of many great soldiers of the cross: Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Peter and John, Stephen, Philip, James, Timothy, Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla, Cornelius (Gentile, of Caesarea), to name a few. (John is not mentioned, as he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos.) It has been said by some that the book of Acts has no apparent ending, for the war is not over; the battles continue; and we, today, are a continuation of the book of Acts: we are soldiers of the cross. And so, this writing remains unfinished, for there are yet new soldiers to be enlisted in the armies of our Lord. . .

Am I a soldier of the cross, A follow’r of the Lamb?

And shall I fear to own his cause, Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies On flow’ry beds of ease.

While others fought to win the prize, And sailed thro’ bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord;

I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy word.

-Isaac Watts-

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