Tomorrow is Veterans Day in the USA, and it is our privilege to be able to tip our hats to all the brave men and women who have served or are serving in our armed forces. We are not ashamed that a tear wells up in our eyes when we see our noble veterans arriving home from a tour of duty, being greeted by hugging loved ones. It moves us to tears to see a child running full-speed ahead and jumping into the arms of her soldier father or mother who has come home from months of serving bravely in our nation’s foreign military expeditions.
Freedoms that we sometimes smugly enjoy in the calm and cool of our temperature-controlled worship services here, week after week, are gained and maintained at enormous cost. Men and women who were barely considered adults, age-wise, have spilled the precious treasure of their life’s blood on some foreign soil, defending freedom’s noble cause. And, an incalculable host of supporting personnel, who have made it possible for the armed men and women to fight the wars, are due our heartfelt admiration today and every day. And we include the wives, sweethearts, brothers and sisters—and mothers and fathers—in that army of supporters who watch and wait and pray until the war is over or the tour is complete. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you on Veterans Day!
Speaking of veterans: Paul, the Apostle, wrote to Timothy that as believers we should endure hardness, as a soldier of Jesus Christ. He speaks of a “good soldier.” I think of the hymn that reads: “A call for loyal soldiers comes to one and all; soldiers for the conflict, will you heed the call? Will you answer quickly, with a ready cheer, will you be enlisted as a volunteer?” (“As a Volunteer,” W.S. Brown, 1907)
Whether one is a good soldier fighting in Uncle Sam’s army or a good soldier of the Cross, I believe all good soldiers share some qualities in common. He or she:
- Endures the hardness of submission, submitting the heart, mind, and body. For the soldier of the cross, Jesus is the Captain of our salvation, and we bring into captivity every thought to Him, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices: “Am I a soldier of the Cross, a follower of the Lamb, and should I fear to own His cause or blush to speak His name? Sure I must fight if I would reign; increase my courage Lord.” (Isaac Watts)
- Endures the hardness of sacrifice, sacrifice of time, treasure, and talent. A soldier recognizes the battle as an opportunity for victory.
- Endures the hardness of separation: separation at times from the comfort of loved ones and/or of one’s motherland, cf. I Sam. 30:6.
- Endures the hardness of suffering—physical, emotional, spiritual.
- Endures the hardness of solitude—loneliness, darkness, loss. All of Christ’s disciples (excluding Judas, a devil from the beginning who is in a separate category) suffered loneliness and, at times, solitude. Read how they died.
- Endures the hardness of “single-mindedness.” He or she has one thing foremost on the mind: “I want to please my Commander.” He or she is single-minded in motivation (“this one thing I do….), single-minded in mind-set (“Duty, Honor, Country—Douglas MacArthur), single-minded in mannerisms, with disciplined purpose and precision; and single-minded in mission: “I press toward the mark….”
So, again, to all soldiers of our Country and soldiers of the Cross: Happy Veterans Day! A “tip of the hat” hardly does it; more correctly, a salute from the heart. We love and appreciate all of you for enduring hardness in submission, sacrifice, separation, suffering, solitude, and singleness of mind! God bless you each and every one!
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (II Tim. 2:3)