A war for heroes
When we’re tired, bone tired and wishing there was some medicine we could take that would let us sleep for a thousand years, or at least until the war was over, we’re tempted to doubt Paul’s word. He says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man." But that’s just it, when we’re weary we either don’t believe that or we don’t care if it’s true. Mostly we tend to doubt it—our temptation is that bit different. At least we tend to think that when we compare ourselves with the mass of people, though we know there are some whose furnace is ten times hotter than ours. (But they live in Third World countries, don’t they?)
But Paul was sure that the temptations we experience have been experienced by others before us and are being experienced at this very moment. Nothing has happened to us, he goes on to say, that must take us away from God for God wouldn’t permit a temptation about which we could do nothing. But his first remark is that our temptations are the common experience of our comrades. Everywhere he looked as he traveled through the world he saw earnest brothers and sisters putting on their armor to engage in war. War with an enemy that gives no quarter though it takes many as slaves! And it’s the sight of these cheerfully serious people that lifts our spirits for the battle. "Here," she says, as we fumble with nervous fingers to buckle something on, "let me help you." Alone with the noise of battle around us, alone and cut off from the main body we would have a hard time of it but shoulder to shoulder with people whose strength and heroism is disguised by their appearance we’re made braver.
Nevertheless this is war! Real war! War against an enemy that seeks us out, meaning not just to harm us but to end us. Meaning not just to end us but to end all those we love and could learn to love. Take away the reality of this war and we face temptation unprepared for the Lord Jesus has taught us that evil is a world spirit that would sift us as wheat and destroy us. We must allow no one to make us tremble in slavish fear as if the victory is not with us in the Christ but we should turn from that speech that makes it appear that sin should be shrugged at as if it were not a killing power. John Bunyan helps us here when he tells us how Christian met Apollyon, the destroyer on the road to the Heavenly City.
Apollyon claims that Christian is his unfaithful servant and Christian agrees. No more would he serve Apollyon for he had given his life over to a young Prince whose government, company, country and service was better than all that Apollyon stood for. After some debate Apollyon "broke out into a grievous rage, saying, I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws and people; I am come out on purpose to withstand thee."
Christian replied, "Apollyon. Beware what you do; for I am in the king’s highway, the way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself."
Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said, "I am void of fear in this matter: prepare thyself to die; for I swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no further; here will I spill thy soul."
Those who sign up for engagement in this war, in the company of this Prince have purposed to engage in a war that’s for heroes. Yes, yes, I know how corny that sounds to those who have not yet seen the reality of the world through the lens of the cross of Christ. Ignoring the sneers and jeers we still know who the salt of the earth is. Of some of our heroic mothers and fathers Hebrews 11:38 says, "the world was not worthy of them." This is a world and a war for heroes.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.