Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (II Timothy 2:3 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Soldier On
I would not make a good soldier, sailor, or marine. I enjoy my comfort too much. I would ask the sergeant why the air conditioning in the tent was not working. I would wonder at the absence of my daily dose of Diet Coke. I would expect a rest every few hundred yards during the hike.
But I can understand that a willingness to suffer for a cause is a necessary quality for a soldier.
A soldier needs a willingness to put off comfort, to postpone reward, to endure pains small and large… all for the cause.
Paul tells Timothy that serving Christ requires that, too. Because we are soldiers of our King, Jesus.
And just like an earthly soldier, we know Christ’s cause is higher than our personal desires, wants, and comforts. Just like an earthly soldier, we know that our rest, our reward, our peace will arrive later, and will be grand. Just like an earthly soldier, we are willing to put up with struggles, trials, pains, and sorrows.
Because Jesus did.
Because Jesus expects us to.
Because Jesus asks us to.
Because we love Jesus.
Fear not, then soldier on.