II Timothy 2:1-4 / Hebrews 12:2b / Romans 8
“For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2b).
There are various military quarters spread throughout the United States, where those who are chosen by the military go. With rigid discipline and lots of exercises, they are trained for the defense of a cause: the security of our nation. In II Timothy 2, the idea used by Paul states that followers of Jesus should act as soldiers; those who are not distracted with day-to-day things because they are completely dedicated to their main objective. The comparison is a good one because a Christian faces a real war: on one hand, he or she wants to please God, while on the other, Satan tries everything to knock them down and destroy them.
A soldier needs to leave aside his or her own interests and learn to work in a team, helping and being helped. A soldier will not conquer anything by him or herself. In the same manner, a follower of Jesus Christ will need fellow companions who share the same objective. In this “battalion”, one gives cover to the other, and all of them together, each one in his or her particular function, collaborate to achieve the same objective.
Also, a soldier needs to face harsh trials to become stronger for combat.
In the same manner, a Christian does not go through hardships and trials to be injured, but to strengthen the spiritual “muscles” and always keep themselves alert while being prepared. It is important to remember that our suffering does not come close to the full extent to what Jesus, being innocent, suffered for us.
The main objective of a soldier is different than of a common citizen, who has “only” civil life obligations in community. “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer” (II Timothy 2:4). The soldier defends a bigger cause. His or her will is to fulfill their mission well and make their commander pleased, the one who directs, trains, and enables them. God desires to be our Commander. We need to present ourselves to Him as voluntaries. He will then take on the command and our main objective will be to please Him.
In our day-to-day life, only those who choose God as Commander will be certain of the victory. Remember: “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). Be a faithful soldier of Christ and do all you can to be joyful amidst the temporary trials because “…our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Life does not stop on this Earth; we still have Eternity to go through.
“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh,” (Romans 8:3). Jesus was the crucial soldier for the salvation of human souls: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).
Jesus, innocently, endured the spitting, the slaps in the face, the swiping, the crown of thorns, the pain, the agony, the shame and solitude at the cross, all for us, while focusing on the promises of God the Father. “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). “He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later” (Romans 12:12).
A true Christian soldier endures until the end whatever he or she needs to face in order to please God, the ultimate Commander-in-Chief.
Read the full chapter: Romans 8
