Everywhere in the world, being a part of or having a part in the military is a serious commitment, a huge honour, a revered responsibility.
To many, military service is a selfless show and clear indication of patriotism, aptitude and sacrifice, an answer to a noble calling in personal and interpersonal growth, as individuals and professionals. This growth is evidenced by the inculcation of strong principles and values, such as discipline, integrity and confidence.
This begs the question – in like manner, how highly do we esteem our identity as soldiers of Christ, where our performance and victories cannot be measured by the strength of our battle defences or the ingenuity of our military strategies, but justified by upholding the will of God against all odds?
Paul’s final words to the church in Ephesus are a forthright appeal to action, carefully crafted to read like a succinct encouragement.
As unexpected as attacks are in times of war and unrest, we cannot afford to be slack in maintaining and upgrading our Christian skillsets; we must leave no place for physical and spiritual enemies to land and attack. This diligent conduct and steadfast heart are good and acceptable in the sight of God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of His truth.
These days, when the world appears to be forward-looking, changing for the better, making ambitious advancements in almost every aspect of life, let us bind our timeless Christian mission as a sign on our hands, and as frontlets between our eyes, remember why our fight is, now, more than ever, still alive.
