A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ

A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ

Text: II Tim 1:15 and 4:10.

                                    

Here we see a military metaphor, the word ‘Soldier’. Paul often used the word ‘Soldier’ for an illustration of Christians in his letters. It was not new for the people during this period because they lived in a military state, i.e. the Roman state. A thousand years ago, it was around 66 AD; the great kingdom of Rome was ruled by Emperor Nero, who was a cruel emperor. He persecuted the Christians so much during this time. A number of Christians lost their lives for the sake of Christ. I think we can see from Quo Vadis film how much they suffered for Christ. At that time Paul was also imprisoned in the cold and smelly dungeon for the second time. According to II Tim 1:15 and 4:10, many Christians in Asia and even his fellow workers- Phygelus, Hermogenes and Demas deserted him in that difficult situation. When Paul heard about all those sad things happened to his fellow believers, he was very sad and very lonely. He knew that his life was nearly at end. Actually, Paul was in the difficult situation, he was in need of help, encouragement and comfort. But Paul, a good soldier of Christ said to Timothy in his letter from that very difficult situation, “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus”.

Paul wanted Timothy to be a good soldier of Christ like him. Here, we see the three main points in this passage. Those points are suffering, not to entangle in the everyday affairs and to please the enlisting officers. Paul gave a clear cut of instruction to Timothy in order to become a good soldier of Christ. He set apart his life for an example and he requested Timothy to share in suffering for Christ like he suffered for Christ. And also he wanted Timothy not to entangle in the worldly things just like he himself had not been entangled. And he encouraged him to please the enlisting officer, Jesus Christ. So, a good soldier of Christ must first of all seek to please Christ. A true soldier is always ready and willing to go anywhere and do anything without complaining, no matter what his own personal desire might be. Christ’s soldier must be like that.

I think we can imagine how much Paul suffered for Christ. His life, commitment and message are very challenging for us those who committed our lives to Jesus. I think we have many things to learn from him. Yes, of course, we are training here in AICS to be good soldiers for Christ. Can we challenge others by saying “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” like Paul? Let us prepare ourselves to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. How will we prepare-

1. We should have a strong commitment:

Suffering is a part of Christian life. There can not be a fruitful ministry without suffering and hardship. Actually, God’s ministry is not an easy task. It demands hardship, strong commitment. One day we may be a Pastor or a Missionary or other. It is very clear that we will face different kind of problems within our ministry or in our lives. In that difficult situation we may stand alone in truth, we may be in need of help, encouragement and comfort. Let us still remember our commitment and let us prepare ourselves to face any kind of hardships and to be able to overcome those hardships. Now is the right time to prepare ourselves for that.

2. Christ should be the most important in our life:

If we don’t put Christ in the center of our life, we will never have an effective ministry. We all know we are living in the materialistic world. There are many temptations of the worldly things which can disturb our ministry. Sometimes it is very easy to put those things more important than Christ. I remember a story that during the Civil War there was a soldier who happened to be a watchmaker. One day the trumpet sounded and all the soldiers were told to fight their enemies. That soldier complained and said, “But, I can not go now, I am too busy, I have a dozen watches to repair”. It means he put the watches more important than his duty. He will never be a good soldier, I think. Even in our context, there are some ministers who always put first their families or wives’ jobs or other activities more important than their ministry. Can we claim that those people are good soldiers of Christ? I don’t think, as we see in II Tim 2:4 “No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs. So, Christ should be more important than anything.  

3. We should accomplish our mission:

As we see in 2:4 (b) “The soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer”. In order to please the enlisting officer, the soldier tried to accomplish his/her mission with all his/her strength. If he/she don’t accomplish his/her mission, he/she never please his/her enlisting officer. We all know that the beginning part is very important for every ways. Moreover, the ending part is more important than the beginning part. When we watched movies or football match also, the most important is how the movies end or which team wins in the end. Likewise our ending part is very important in our ministry. If our ending part is not good, we never please our commanding officer, Jesus Christ, and we never become a good soldier of Christ. So, let us try to accomplish our mission in order to become good soldiers of Jesus Christ.

4. Christ should be glorified in our ministries:

Paul gave his life, his ability for the glory of God. It is very easy to use our skill, wisdom, knowledge and ability for our own interest and glory. Sometimes we often use our ministry for our own interest and glory. Because of that our words and actions can not be alive for others. If Christ is not glorified in our ministry, our ministry is in vain. So, it will never bear fruits. But, if God is glorified in our ministries, we can please our enlisting officer, Jesus Christ. So, a good soldier of Christ should act like that.

For the Last, I want to say one story when William Carey was suffering his final illness, he was visited by Alexander Duff, a Scottish Missionary. Duff was eager to learn more of Carey’s experiences. After praying together, Duff had got as far as the door, when the old man whispered his name.

“Mr. Duff, you have been speaking about Dr. Carey, Dr. Carey. When I am gone say nothing more about Dr. Carey but Dr. Carey’s Savior”. It is wonderful how much he committed his life to God. This was the secret of his greatness and his usefulness to God. We, ourselves also, let us recommit to God once again to be good soldiers of Christ.