Americans celebrated the end of WORLD WAR I at exactly 11:00 A.M. (Paris Time) on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918—104 years ago. The year was 1918. After the war, Congress declared November 11 to be an annual holiday. This day was originally called “Armistice Day” but changed to “Veterans Day” in 1953 after WWII ended. Americans pay tribute to all of their veterans, who fought so bravely to provide and protect our freedoms.

In reflecting on this day and what a veteran is, as well as those who join the military, it gave me an opportunity to understand the calling of these men and women.  I believe they all received a calling from God to pursue this service.

Veterans choose to serve their country, just as believers choose to serve their God. When believers give their lives to Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior, they enlist into the Army of God. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 we are called good soldiers of Jesus Christ and it goes on to say that we shouldn’t entangle ourselves in the affairs of this life, but we should please Him who enlisted us as soldiers.

In other words, we need to not focus all our attention on what is happening around us but keep our focus and attention on the Lord Jesus Christ.  In 2 Timothy, Paul wanted Timothy to have the commitment of a soldier, discipline of an athlete, and faith and patience of a farmer.

As believers and soldiers in God’s Army, we need to have this same commitment.  Soldiers first go through Boot Camp to prepare for service (physically, mentally, and emotionally) as well as to receive the equipment necessary to perform their duties/roles.  During Boot Camp or Basic Training, the new recruits are equipped with the following ability:

• To believe in a cause more important than themselves
• To focus on the benefits rather than the cost. Soldiers look at the future with hope instead of focusing on the present with fear and trepidation.
• To recognize their hardship is only temporary and subject to change
• To drop everything when he or she is called to answer the call
• To be committed to the cause and know their lives are no longer their own

Believers in the Lord should be able to do the same!

• Believe in God and what His Word says
• Focus on the spiritual blessings God has already provided at the cross
• Recognize, if in a hardship, the situation is subject to change. It is only temporary
• Drop everything if someone has a need as well as be ready to share your testimony and the Gospel
• Commit to the Lord and know that we have died to self and given our lives to Him

During orientation, the recruit is fitted with the appropriate uniform for his/her branch of service.  Someone joining the Marines receives a Marine uniform—not a uniform for the Navy, Air Force, etc.  As believers, we need to be fitted with the right uniform for God’s Army.  Ephesians 6 instructs us how to put on the whole armor of God.  We receive God’s armor, not our own. King Saul tried to give David his armor to fight Goliath, but it didn’t fit. King Saul was head and shoulders over David and if David tried to fight with King Saul’s armor, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat Goliath.

As we step out in service for God, our mission is to change the atmosphere at our workforce, school, the gym and wherever we spend time with believers and non-believers.  Have you prepared yourself as a soldier in God’s army by spending time in His Word and listening to the commander’s (God’s) voice so you are ready for service and to fight any battle against the enemy?

Thank you, veterans, for your service and for providing a good example on how to live as a good soldier for God.

~Donna Jones