Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
In my reflection this morning, I asked myself a very important question, which is, “What is a “wartime lifestyle” and why is it important in the life of a Christian?” I really love the phrase “wartime lifestyle”. I have never served my country in the military, but I can genuinely relate to what it means to have a wartime lifestyle in my Christian walk. I, like Christian in Paul Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, am on a journey from my hometown, the City of Destruction, and I am going to my eternal home, the Celestial City. I entered my journey through yonder gate that is set before me, straight and narrow up yonder hill. I know, as Christ has promised, I will have persecutions in my life; people will hate and reject me because of Him. I know that my pilgrimage will not be easy. I will encounter despair, troubles, temptations, difficulties, the enemy’s attack, and even my own sin and fears of uncertainty. Yet, I press on as I have done for over a half-century of my life; ‘To God Be The Glory!’
I also know that my wartime lifestyle is not defensive, but offensive as I strive to serve Him first in my life!
To me, a wartime lifestyle is my mental perspective: am I truly prepared as I carry Christ’s Banner of Salvation and Hope in my daily walk with Him? Yes, I will have fears. However, I do not fear God. For 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” So, no! I do not fear God; nor do I have a fear of others, since I have already experienced rejection, being hated by family and friends because of Christ, and even experiencing abuse when I was physically attacked and beaten, or rather kicked in the face and in my private parts because of Him (no doubt, this is true!). So no! I do not fear others. My fear is greater. I fear myself and I tremble. I fear that I may sin and tread with disregard on the precious blood of my Savior, who died for me. I fear that I may respond to others in a way whereby I will be considered a castaway or disqualified as a servant of Christ. Yes, I have fears. But, I have Christ in my life and He is the only one in my life that matters. In Him I trust.
I also have questions: Will I blaspheme the name of God when I am in duress? Will I continue to suffer for the cause of Christ amidst persecution? Will I love others as I love myself? Will I neglect the daily disciplines that keep me so close to Him as I abide in Christ? Will I forsake the assembling together of believers as the body of Christ, which is the church?
As you can see, my questions are connected to my fears because I greatly fear myself. Therefore, I need to take steps to overcome them and this is my resolve! I will keep my daily discipline. Every morning and evening I will come to the cross of Christ with all my misfortunes, my sin, my fears, my concerns, my all. I will cast all upon Him and trust Him totally when life is good to me and when life is difficult. I will remain submitted to my Lord’s headship in my life, and to those whom Christ has spiritually set over me: the pastors and elders of my church. I will follow HIm. I will use all my spiritual disciplines that Christ has provided so I remain faithful and true if that is even possible as a lowly man like me. And finally, I will pray and read God’s Holy Word to glean His promises, His warning, His admonitions, the truth of His character and nature, and His attributes. I will set before me Him who is able, so I can thank Him for the gift of faith. And this is the victory that has overcome the world. My faith!
I will forever praise, worship, adore, magnify, and honor Him who purchased my life; so as Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”