I use the phrase “true Christian” for a reason. There are those who fancy themselves to be Christians. There are thousands of people who go to church Sunday mornings and call themselves Christian. Yet there is no spiritual strife, no conflict, no self-denial, no watching, and no warring. That is not the Christianity of the Bible. A true Christian is called to be a soldier.
Who does a Christian soldier fight against? A Christian soldier’s
enemies are his flesh, the world, and Satan. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). He must either fight or be lost.
The Christian soldier fights against his flesh. Even after being born again, sin cleaves to his heart and his “spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). This is a daily struggle that is fought through prayer; he is told to “watch and pray” (Mark 14:38).
The Christian soldier must fight against the world. The subtle influences of the world must be resisted daily. The love of the things from the world, the fear of not being accepted by the world, the secret desire to be a part of the world, the secret wish to do as others in the world do. These things the Christian soldier must do battle with daily. “Friendship with the world is hostility toward God”… “therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
The Christian soldier fights a murderer and a liar, Satan. Satan does not attack those who are already living in sin. Those who are living a lifestyle that the world wants them to live. No, it is a waste of his time to attack them because he already has them. He already has a place for them in hell. Talking to Peter about Satan’s desire to attack His followers, Jesus says, “Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Satan attacks the Christian soldier.
A Christian soldier does not fight with carnal weapons but with spiritual weapons. The girdle of truth, a “breastplate of righteousness”, feet shod “with the preparation of the Gospel of peace”, “the shield of faith”, “the helmet of salvation”, “the sword of the Spirit” (the Word of God) (Eph 6:14-18), and prayer (Luke 22:40), these are the weapons of the Christian soldier.
Without faith the Christian soldier will fail. Faith is a big part of the character of the Christian soldier. Regarding faith the Christian soldier can say, “I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed” (2Tim 1:12), “we do not lose heart” (2Cor 4:16), for “the things which are not seen are eternal (2Cor 4:18)”.
To live the life of a Christian soldier you must first believe. Unless you believe you will do nothing.
“Fight the good fight of faith”- 1Timothy 6:12
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