2 Timothy 2:4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him. AMPC
When we accept Jesus as our Lord we should expect that we will automatically go into war as a soldier in God‘s army. The plan is for us is to grow up to obtain God’s wisdom and learn His ways—walk in them and then stand in faith patiently, even through the temptations (the enemy tires to entangle us with) set up to stop us. Through those temptations if we don't quit, we will mature to a place of not lacking anything!
James 1:2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. AMPC
Jesus taught us that we should not only imitate Him, but that as we did we would endure persecution. What He meant is, we should embrace as He did our cross as one who is committed to God, to be apart of His Kingdom and stand for what is right by His standards!
Matthew 16:24-2 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]? AMPC
Thus, the plan is that we commit to grow up and become a soldier in God’s army by forgetting about ourselves and serve something greater - to love each other! Don't live your life about you, but give up your life for the sake of others, for the sake of your friend, wife, mother... do the greater works you were called to at any expense!
We're all called to do those greater works, we all have an assignment, but the problem— to be frank is, we’re lazy. We take time to enlist in God‘s army, but we don't want to go through boot camp. We don’t want to take the time to endure and serve, we don't deny ourselves and we don't conform wholly to His example, we don't even know our assignment. I don't think many realize they are enlisting in war when accepting Jesus as their Lord, but it is time we become aware. Being a Christian is a work, it is a fight we have to fight! A fight not only for ourselves, for our own salvation, but for the salvation of others.
Galatians 6:2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. AMPC
We are in a war, a war to win by trusting—believing God even when things get tough. We are not called to drop out, but to depend on the One who enlisted us—to be the over-comer He has called us to be.
Although we should be strong and courageous by now, clinging to God and growing in knowledge (the knowledge of Him, proving His abilities), many have already dropped out—quit and gave up! Many have lost their connection with God due to entanglement, that civilian comfortable life they have gotten caught up in. That life that looks easier but really isn’t and is just a temporary pleasure designed by Satan to lure us from God.
We have to know how powerful God is, that there is no foe who can withstand Him and that He can and will see us though to victory! But we can only know that when we're insistent on being that soldier, that one who has taken the time to know God.
Of course the boot camp is boot camp, it is not easy and it’s not lazy lane. Boot camp is learning to trust God, getting equipped to do His will and being the over-comer He has called us to be! An over-comer is one that will stay true to God, trusting Him, and being faithful to believe Him in whatever circumstance one is in. Whatever things look like we are called to believe God, that His promises are true, and not be moved by our temporary circumstance the enemy tries us with.
2 Corinthians 4:18Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. AMPC
To be that soldier you have to know your Commander, as well you have to know your enemy— and that takes time. It takes walking out the will of God, not just saying we agree and/or copy others who say they believe, but doing what we say we believe (the Word) copy the Word, even though others have dropped out.
I have seen that happen, many whom I started growing up with in the church have dropped out. They still call themselves Christians, still go to church, but they don’t go to Him or prove His will is good and perfect. They don’t stand or fight, but they instead are entangled in the enterprises of the world. Sad thing is, is that they don‘t even realize it.
Jesus said if we didn’t have ears to hear, if we weren't listening, even what we once knew would be taken from us.
Mark 4:23 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. 24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear. 25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away [by force], AMPC
It is not to late, don’t be tangled in Satan’s web of compromise. in danger of having your name erased from the Lambs book of life.
Revelation 3: 5 Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels. AMPC
Start anew today, re-enlist and get charged, get excited for boot camp and winning! God has your back covered, what seems too hard, He will see you through. Your part is to say, “Yes Lord.”