Only the Dead have seen the End of War

 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 ESV

 General Douglas MacArthur included this quote from Plato in his 1962 farewell address at West Point. The General asked, “What sort of soldiers are those you are to lead? Are they reliable? Are they brave? Are they capable of victory? They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them: Duty, Honor, Country. Always their blood, and sweat, and tears, as they saw the way and the light.”

 Indeed, there are battles and even wars worth fighting, because the cost of doing nothing may be much greater than the cost of fighting the war. As we know, freedom is not cheap. Nor is salvation cheap either for the Bible says, “We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.” Blood so precious that no appropriate price can ever be assigned to it.

 I wonder: Does the devil ever take a day off? Do the demons ever go on vacation? Does the world ever embrace the tenets of Christianity? Is there a single country where Jesus Christ would be elected its leader? The answer, of course, is no because there is no respite from the spiritual battle between God and the devil, good and evil, salvation by faith and salvation by works, etc.

 We Christians need to realize we are in a spiritual war (not merely an occasional battle) that will never end. The Christian answers to a higher calling (think of it as an enlistment) that can be stated in this manner: Duty, Honor, the CROSS!

 “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war! With the CROSS of Jesus going on before!” Thus, we “put on the whole armor of God,” we “pray without ceasing,” we proclaim Christ as the only Savior, we lift up the Bible as the infallible Word of God, we use our money to spread the gospel in our community and throughout the world, we live circumspectly lest we bring dishonor upon His name, and we’re always there when the church doors are open because that single service has the potential to change someone’s life.

 Yes, we’ve enlisted in the greatest cause of all and our motto is Duty, Honor, the CROSS!

 I pray these next words can be said about you. This incident took place on a British warship in the Bay of Biscay. The battle was drawing near and there were many things against them. The pilot said to the admiral, “It will be an awful night, and there is a lee shore, and the wind is rising.”

 The Admiral saw the enemy, recognized that the danger was great. He then said, “Son, you have done your duty in pointing out the dangers. Now if you would please: Lay me alongside the enemy.”

 This, too, is my own prayer. “O, God, lay me alongside the enemy. Let me fight the devil with everything I have so that he may not win.”

 Duty, Honor, the CROSS!

Tom Swartzwelder

Sep 4, 2024 – On September 3, 2024, Tom Swartzwelder completed the race that God had set before him. He is now with Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith.’

Hebrews 12:1-2A

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ at http://www.godsgreenhouse.net. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”

Image by DEEPAI