This is WAR!

I came into the church out of the military. I had planned to stay in much longer but circumstances and personal conviction put an end to that plan. I’m still drawn to the military lifestyle. When I became a Christian I made mental notes about how many military analogies there are in the Bible. It’s full of them. That’s because Christians are in a fight for their lives. This is war!

Make no mistake about it…this is a fight to the death! We have enemies that would like nothing more than to destroy us and they will use any means necessary to do so. We should never forget that.

It's easy to become distracted by the day to day things in our lives. But it would be a huge mistake to forget the Big Picture, to take our minds off our goal. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”. Unlike a hand to hand fight our battles are with ourselves. That is where our enemies strike...inside us. They know all of our weaknesses far better than we do. And we are completely surrounded by them…quite literally.

This always makes me think of one episode of military history. During the Korean War when the U.S. and it’s United Nations allies had beaten the North Koreans back to the Yalu river some 200,000 Chinese came across the border and began what was in affect a new war. Seven divisions encircled 20,000 UN troops at the Chosin Reservoir. Beginning November 26th 1950 and lasting till December 11th one of the bloodiest battles in human history followed. It was fought in the dead of winter in some the most bitterly cold conditions anywhere on earth. The 7th Infantry of the U.S. Army retreated leaving their weapons and equipment behind. The First Marine Division with units of South Korean and British Royal Marines recovered the weapons and equipment.

When he was asked if the Marines were retreating too, the commander of the First Marine Division, General O.P.Smith said: "Retreat, hell! We're attacking in a different direction!"

Colonel Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, who would become the most decorated Marine in history, replied: “They have us completely surrounded, that simplifies the problem...now we can attack in any direction!”

The Marines collected the weapons and equipment left behind by the 7th Infantry and proceeded to inflict more casualties against their enemy than any unit in history. They disabled all seven Chinese divisions and the "Frozen Chosen" made it out of North Korea safely leading to the stalemate that still exists between the North and South. The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir is considered one of the finest moments in the history of the United States Marine Corps.

General Smith and Colonel Puller set an example for their men of absolute confidence. They knew they would not survive, they would not adapt…they would prevail! Such were the leaders and the men that won that battle. As Christians we should be confident of the same thing. If God be for us…who can stand against us?!

There is an incident in the life of Elisha the prophet recorded in II Kings 6 when the Syrian army surrounded the city Elisha was in. When his servant looked out and saw them he was overcome with fear. Elisha wasn’t troubled at all. He prayed for God to open the eyes of that servant. When God opened his eyes he saw an army of angels surrounding the Syrians! I can almost feel the hair going up on the back of his neck!

In a like manner we are surrounded…but the army around us is too! A third of the angels in heaven followed Lucifer in his rebellion and became demons. But they are outnumbered two to one! Not to mention that they are fighting against the Most High God!

If you come to think in military terms, you can come to think strategically…how we fight in the big picture. We are in enemy territory. We are completely surrounded and our enemy will do anything it takes. There are no Geneva Accords here.

So how do we fight? We stay close to the Heavy Artillery…and we act as a unit. We stick together. And we call in an air strike when it gets too hot...That's what prayer is you know! Any Marine will tell you that in a fight he wants another Marine on his left, one on his right and one behind him! When We Christians are behaving ourselves we want our brethren around us to help lift us up when we fall. And we stay close to the Big Guns! (I don’t know that anyone has ever compared God to heavy artillery before!)

How do we fight tactically…in our small scale day to day skirmishes? We never surrender. We never compromise! Sin is sin…make no excuses for it. When you commit it…repent. When you’re near it put it away from you. Never compromise with it! Resist evil and it will flee from you. Keep your eyes on the goal...the Kingdom of God.

Besides having The Creator of the Universe on our side we have the aids He has given us for our fight. Put on the Armor of Light! Learn to use your double-edged sword in close quarters…you’ll need it! Never forget this is a fight to the death!

And finally…Be Strong and of a Good Courage! I’ve seen the end of the story and we win!

Goodnight Chesty!