Replacement Soldiers

You therefore must endure hardship
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself
with the affairs of this life,
that he may please him who enlisted him
as a soldier. 2 Titus 2:4-5

This world is not always a comfortable place to be. That is because we are strangers here. We are not citizens. And we are not here permanently. But there is more to the discomfort we experience, because we also are not guests. We are instead soldiers in a spiritual war. And we are a special kind of soldier.

The spiritual war has been going on for a long time, since the very beginning as recounted in Genesis. So we aren’t the first to be called to fight; we are the latest in a long line. When a nation goes to war, the first soldiers are those who have been soldiers for a while. They are trained and ready. Their equipment has been tested. Their supplies are in place. If the battle continues, more soldiers are deployed. Eventually the well-trained and fully equipped soldiers are all fighting. What happens, if still more soldiers are needed? The reservists are called up, and the nation asks for more citizens to enlist. These replacements do not have time for the training given to the soldiers who were called first.

We are the replacements. We go into the fight and learn about the battle as we fight. But God has not sent us out unequipped. He has given us tools and strength and power to withstand the evil in the world. He has sent His spirit to give us guidance. We are fully equipped to stand firm in the spiritual battle.

Be strong with the Lord's mighty power.
Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm
against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood,
but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world,
and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil,
so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Eph. 6:10-13