Drafted to be God's Soldiers

“Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”

-Psalm 144:1

When a person first comes to Christ, there is usually a flood of peace & joy that they experience within. Little do they realize that they have just been enlisted as a Christian soldier! There is no choice about this enlistment, it comes naturally with the commitment. Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble, but in HIM we will have peace, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Do I exaggerate by saying this? Isn't the scripture listed written through David, and in the Old Testament? A quick look will verify that the warfare principles exist throughout the whole Bible.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" -2 Corinthians 10:3,4

"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" -2 Timothy 2:3,4

And as you probably know already, Ephesians 6:10-18 identifies our enemy, the devil and his fallen angels, and the weapons God has given us to fight them.

The devil hates all of mankind, but by our naturally sinful nature he already has the great majority of people (John 3:18). Those that he fights hardest against are the redeemed of the Lord, for they have the weaponry to launch an effective counter-attack, and by which more soldiers may be enlisted. Beware! The devil will fight hard against the new, weaker Christians, trying to disarm them before they are even aware of the weapons God has given them for the fight.

These things are being written to the body of Christ for their encouragement, that they might continue in that spiritual journey Jesus has called them to. Don't be discouraged, soldier, hold the line-"Resist the devil, and he will flee" (James 4:7). And remember that God will NOT allow you to be tested beyond what He has already given you the power to overcome!

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." -I Corinthians 10:13.

Not every Christian follows the exact same route, but the devil will oppose all who have made Jesus their savior & Lord. If you are having the struggles, remember that these trials are a confirmation of a transformed life (2 Corinthians 5:17), rather than showing something is amiss. Be encouraged! Be strengthened! No evil the devil can bring will separate you from the savior!

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:33-39.