Dan Eakin/Contributing writer
Veterans Day is always a time to pause and thank our military men and women for the sacrifices they have made to keep our country free.
At Collinsville Bible Baptist Church, we are observing Veterans Day a day late, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, to recognize military veterans, law enforcement officers and first responders who protect and serve us.
We recognize the need for a strong military and strong law enforcement to keep us safe from evil around us.
Just as we need to have a physically strong military and law enforcement, we also need to be spiritually strong. Spiritual warfare is now underway stronger than ever before in our nation, in our churches and in our individual lives.
Ephesians 6:10-12: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.”
In that sense, we all need to be good soldiers for the Lord. Here are five ways to be a good soldier for the Lord:
1. A good soldier wears the armor.
A county sheriff once told me that he would fire any deputy who came to work without wearing his armor. Spiritually speaking, it is so important that we as Christians wear our spiritual armor every day. Ephesians 6:14-17 tells us what the armor is: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Maybe we should first put on the helmet of salvation (Make sure we have accepted Christ as our Savior), then live righteously as possible before the Lord, keep the faith, tell others about God and his love, and stay in the Word to overcome temptation.
2. A good soldier knows his weapon.
Since our sword is the Word of God, we need to read it like reading a manual on how to live. When Jesus was tempted of the devil in the wilderness, he quoted Scripture from the Old Testament to ward of the temptations. David said, in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.”
3. A good soldier knows his enemy.
The devil would like for us to think we are each other’s enemy. If he can get us fighting between ourselves, then he knows he will have rendered us powerless. We as Christians primarily have three major enemies: the devil, the flesh and the world.
“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” — I Peter 5:8
“Walk in Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in this world…..For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world.” I John 2:15,16
If we live only for this world and keep our eyes only on the things of this world, we will miss the eternal spiritual blessings that God wants us to have.
4. A good soldier obeys his captain.
I love this old song:
“A call for royal soldiers comes to one and all, soldiers for the conflict, will you heed the call?
Will you answer quickly, with a ready cheer, will you be enlisted as a volunteer?
A volunteer for Jesus, a Solider true, others have enlisted, why not you?
Jesus is the Captain, we will never fear. Will you be enlisted as a volunteer?
5. A good soldier endures hardness.
II Timothy 2:3: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good solider of Jesus Christ.”
In the early days of Christianity, and in some parts of the world today, Christians endure hardness as they are persecuted for their faith. In America, at this point, that does not happen so much. But those who come out strong for their faith may be ridiculed, made fun of and/or be shunned by unbelievers.
James 1:12: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (or testing), for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”