Tomorrow is Remembrance Day here in Canada. It is a day when we stop and pay tribute
to those who have died in the service of our Country. We honor those who have endured
unimaginable horrors, so that we might enjoy the freedom we have today. My father was
in the military, and my Great-Grandfather died from complications he received in WW1.
Those in the military have been trained to endure hardness, they have been trained to
persevere to the end in the defense of their homeland.
As a child of God, we are soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in a spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places." This has been a battle of the ages. We often think of those
that are on the front-lines of this battle such as missionaries, preachers, evangelists, as
the only ones enduring hardness. The truth of the matter is that anyone that takes a stand
for Christ will endure hardness. From the co-operate businessman, to the housewife, to
the child on the school ground. If we take a stand for the Lord we will suffer for it.
You might be wondering how you can take a stand for the Lord. Do you speak up when
His name is taken in vain? Do you laugh or smile at off-colored jokes? Are you honest
in your business deals when you are being pressured to lie? If your life is reflective of
your regenerated condition, then you will suffer persecution in this world. This is not
something that should alarm us, for we are told in 2 Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that
will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." The Lord Jesus Himself spoke
of this in John 15:18 & 19 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it
hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
hateth you."
Are you going through a difficult time today of persecution because you are a child of
God? If so, take courage and keep on. Our brave soldiers that see conflict in other
countries are faced with hatred and attacks; yet they keep on, they are enduring hardness
for the good of their homeland. We are pilgrims here on this earth, this world is not our
home, we are fighting for another country, for the King of Kings. And remember we are
not fighting alone! Take your place beside your brothers and sisters in Christ, keeping
your eyes on the Lord, where all your strength will come from! Psalms 18:32 "It is God
that girdeth me with strength," Take heart and dig in for the long haul. Someday this
battle will end, we will enter victoriously through Heavens gates, and will see the Lord
face to face. How wonderful it will be to hear the words, "Well done my good and faithful
servant."
Onward, Christian Soldiers
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before!
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, see His banners go!
At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On, then Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise!
Like a mighty army, moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod;
We are not divided; All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song:
Glory, laud and honor, unto Christ the King:
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Onward Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war;
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Sabine Baring-Gould
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