Dear BPCWA worshipper,  Today, we are not just hearing of “of wars and rumours of wars” (Matt 24:6) – we are witnessing them. The day is far spent, we must progress His kingdom. Soldiers of Christ, arise and put your armour on! I hope that by now, we realise that we are called to be soldiers of Christ. As I mentioned last week, this is not about engaging in a physical warfare or being active in the political arena. Rather, it is about progressing His kingdom’s work individually and through His church. It is about a soldier vowing to defend and protect his nation’s cause. Today, I want us to understand what being a soldier of Christ requires of every one of us without exception. With this understanding, we can reflect if we are being faithful in our duties for Him while we await His coming.    

A soldier’s readiness to fight. How different would the ongoing war have panned out if not for the everyday people who are standing up to defend their country. However dedicated and courageous the President may be, the war cannot be won with only the President and his ministers fighting. While it might seem obvious in our normal everyday physical life, some do not seem to think that that is the case when it is applied to the ordinary Christian. When it comes to labouring, sacrifice, and dedication in service to the Lord, many think that hard work and toil in the church is something that should be left to the Pastor, those called to full-time service, or to the Session members. But in Christ’s kingdom, there are different roles for everyone. And everyone must stand up to do their part. God’s kingdom is not just made up of the Pastor, Board of Elders, Session, and ministry leads, but consists of all who are followers of Christ. In the Bible, it was not just the Apostles who risked and sacrificed much for God’s kingdom. They did God’s work together with the many co-labourers who served together for the furtherance of God’s work despite personal losses and risks. Many were ready to enter the battle for souls and for the kingdom’s work to progress.

A soldier’s priority. When a soldier is called up for duty, the soldier does not say that he will go on duty when he can work it into his schedule. As we have seen in recent weeks, war can come suddenly and without much warning. When an urgent need arises, the soldier adjusts his personal schedule to attend to his duty. There was even an account of a couple who got married in their army uniforms in the midst of the Ukrainian war. Whether he is in active service or a reservist, the soldier keeps himself fit and ready for service at any time. Christian soldier, what is your attitude when a need arises and you are approached to serve, especially when there is a need? Let us remember that “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Tim 2:4). Bluntly put, if you are too busy to serve when you are needed, then you have entangled yourself with this world and have failed in priority as a soldier of Christ. We must not fail. For those who are indeed soldiering on, whenever you feel it is “too much”, let us consider what those in Ukraine have been and are willing to do because they truly know they are in battles daily. If we remember that we are indeed daily in a spiritual warfare, we will consider “reorganising” our life for Christ’s kingdom, checking what we can reschedule if needed so that we can serve if we are called upon to do so. Instead, is service only something that you would consider taking up when it is convenient to what you’ve decided is your schedule? Are you the “soldier” who fits Christ’s kingdom into his available “spare” time here and there? The soldier’s life and his regular schedules are secondary when duty calls. He readily drops his rest and recreation when his nation needs him. For the Christian, it must be likewise for the work and progress of Christ’s kingdom!

A soldier’s commitment. For the Christian, our life is not ours. If “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21), we will be willing to “endure hardness” (2 Tim 2:3). Hardness means suffering hardships, troubles, and afflictions. Can we actually say that our Christian life and service is anything close to the hardness that the Ukrainian soldiers are going through now? Sadly, for most of us, we certainly have nothing to “endure”, because we have refused to live a Christian life with anything close to hardship. We don’t want to perspire, labour, be tired, or exert energy. “Someone else” can always do the tough things, not me.  It was quite amazing to hear how many wives were so proud that their husbands were going to battle for the future of their land, though they know that the possibility exists that the soldier may never return, or may not return whole. They are willing to let him fulfill his duty to serve the nation, even at the cost to themselves. We are not talking here about arbitrary neglect of family. But do you want your husband or your father to be willing to sacrifice for you, do what you want, rather than for him to make sacrifices for Christ? Perhaps, as a family member, you do not want your husband to serve because you will have less time with him. The family of a soldier is always aware that there are times when the nation calls on him. Whether you’re a young man, a senior, a lady, or a man – you’re a soldier. I am thankful for the many who have taken up areas of service that require a weekly commitment on their part. This “infringes” on their free time and ability to commit to other things in their lives, but they do it for the Lord’s work. But to the others who are reluctant to do so, think of the comfortable environment and blessed freedom you are in which enables you to serve God, compared to the unimaginably harsh and life-threatening situations of the Ukrainian soldiers? Our vow on Rededication Sunday was to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service. Is it a chore, something that you do when “you can’t get out of it”, very reluctantly, and only when you’re pushed into a corner?  Or do you instead try to find a “reasonable” excuse to turn down the duty? I call this a duty because when someone is approached to serve, it is because God’s church has a need and they’re deemed to be the most suitable for that role. A patriotic soldier is distressed when he sees his nation in need of help and he does not need to be cajoled to play his part. The most famous sniper in the world, “Wali”, when he answered the call to join the Ukrainian volunteer forces, said he felt “like a firefighter who hears the alarm ringing”.  What about you when you have an ability given by God when you hear the bell to serve? Are our families willing to endure hardness together when the head of the home is called to serve the King? Or does a “me and my family come first before God” attitude prevail in your heart? Do you shy away from duties at church that may take a bit more physical effort involving physical exertion and heat? If so, woe the day when persecution and true hardness comes – we will deny Christ when it is most important to own Him! We cannot study about the martyrs and yet not be willing to endure hardness. As you read this, you may be thinking that what I’m writing in this pastoral is so very, very hard. But that is precisely what a soldier is supposed to do – endure hardness, as God’s Word tells us to. Whether it be a quick battle or a long drawn one, we must endure. Is our attitude “every man for himself” or “every man for Christ’s kingdom”? If it is the former, I am warning you that you will not hear your Saviour say “well done” when you meet Him face to face. What horror it must bring to your heart if you are truly His blood-bought child who refused to battle for Him in this life!

A soldier’s motivation. An early video from the Ukrainian President to the citizens closed with “Glory to Ukraine”. This was later echoed by the citizens around the nation as the war progressed. Why were the soldiers and citizens ready to defend their country, many even to death? A deep love and loyalty for their nation is the answer. The outward actions of determination, courage, sacrifice and commitment ultimately stem from the heart that is committed to a cause. Such a soldier is concerned when the cause is undermined or in need. There were reports of husbands who travelled with their families to the western border to see them to safety and then travelled back east again to fight for their nation. It is yet to be seen if they will win the war. But the men have won the hearts of those, even the world, who see what their nation meant to them. For a Christian soldier in Christ’s army, we seek a greater cause – Christ’s glory. Whether or not in the eyes of the world we are seen to “win” the war, our duty is to fulfill His command to love our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, thereby glorifying Him. “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pet 2:12) speaks of our good works both in our living, as well as in promoting God’s kingdom. As we see these accounts for a temporal country, do our hearts and lives even reflect a small fraction of such dedication for our Lord’s spiritual, eternal, and far more glorious kingdom? A true soldier may even suffer great personal loss from his service to his nation, but he is willing to bear it as long as his nation is uplifted and glorified.

Finally, brethren, as we close off this pastoral, let us not forget that that is the end of the study of our theology. We study about the millennial reign of Christ because we believe that that will be a glorious age when Christ’s kingdom truly shall come. We study in our fellowships about the persecutions the early Christians endured in 1 Peter because we want to know how to respond when duty calls. We study about the heroes of the faith because their testimony must inspire us to live as they did, for the glorious hope not yet seen with our eyes. As end of every Lord’s Prayer with “Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”, let us examine our own hearts as we mouth these words. Does your heart reflect your lips? Or will the very words you speak testify against you? As we see the accounts of soldiers in action, can you sing hymns like “Saviour More than Life to Me”, “All to Jesus I Surrender”, and “Soldiers of Christ Arise” with a good conscience? Is His glory indeed more important to you than your life? Are you willing to surrender your all for His work and glory? Are you indeed willing to arise when Christ’s work and kingdom beckon you with a word to say, a work to do, or a loss to suffer for Him?

Let us truly be inspired to be soldiers of Christ, not backing away from the battle, not fearful of enduring hardships. God’s cause is great. His victory is sure. Why not be part of it?

Since I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.  

Must I be carried to the skies,
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor