Have You Gone Rogue?
- May 12
- 4 min read
Coming from a family of soldiers, the thought of going into combat has always intrigued me. I don't think many people of substance would argue that risking your life for something greater than yourself is not a bad way to spend your time here on earth. Nelson Mandela even has a quote stating that if a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he is not fit to live.
Since I have never had the privilege of serving, I'm forced to rely on what I've seen in army-style movies. One thing that has always fascinated me was when soldiers would go off into battle in a foreign country but were never alone. Not far behind them was the government they were fighting for, watching their every move.
Most of us know that even if a soldier is fighting a battle on the ground, he has eyes in the sky that let him know of the dangers to come and also defend positions that the soldier might not see himself. The soldiers that are in other countries risking their life for the government usually have a direct line of communication back to their commander and sometimes even the President himself. At any given moment, they can pick up their satellite phone and call up headquarters for advice or air support.
Air support is something that the foot solders rely on when they are backed into a corner. Whenever they face a problem that needs more strength and force than they are capable of themselves, they rely on the government that backs them to bring it in. This assurance allows them to be completely focused on the mission at hand and fight confidently, knowing that there is a greater force just one call away.
Paul refers to followers of Jesus as soldiers for Christ. He understood that we should have the same approach in our service to God. We should be like soldiers, not focused on the things of this world so that we can please the One who enlisted us. Much similar to a soldier on the battlefield, it is our commitment to fulfil the mission of Christ that gives us direct access to our own "eyes in the sky."
3 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him. 2 Timothy 2:2-4 AMPC
Jesus walked in faith confidently because He knew that at any given moment He could call on God, who had a full view of the situation, and He would rescue Him immediately.
52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions [[a]more than 80,000] of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must come about this way? Matthew 26:52-54 AMPC
The Bible also says that God does not hear the prayers of sinners but of the people who are committed to doing His will, or in other words, completing His mission.
30 The man replied, Well, this is astonishing! Here a Man has opened my eyes, and yet you do not know where He comes from. [That is amazing!] 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him. John 9:30-31 AMPC
What many of us also know is that if a soldiers goes rogue, he know longer has access to the eyes in the sky . As long as a soldier's main priority is accomplishing the will of the commander, he can at any time ask for the commander's help and they will gladly oblige.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law [of God and man], even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting [to God]. Proverbs 28:9 AMPC
Jesus Himself says that the reason we don't get our prayers, or "calls," answered is simply because we are focused on ourselves. It is not the prayer for our will to be done that will be heard by a righteous God. It is only the prayers and requests that align with the commander's wishes that the commander will listen to.
3 [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. James 4:3 AMPC
We must ask ourselves, have we truly enlisted as soldiers in the Holy Army of God? Are we so focused on completing the will of our Commander in Chief that we have lost sight and interest in the things of the world? Jesus advises those who wish to enlist in the pursuit of Him to be prepared to pay the ultimate price.
28 For which of you, wishing to build a [h]farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to complete [the building], all who see it will begin to mock and jeer at him,30 Saying, This man began to build and was not able ([i]worth enough) to finish. 31 Or what king, going out to engage in conflict with another king, will not first sit down and consider and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand [men] to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if he cannot [do so], when the other king is still a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks the terms of peace. 33 So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, [j]say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:28-33 AMPC
Question of the day? Are you ready to enlist as a soldier for Christ?
