The fight

I was talking to a friend who shared a vision a mutual acquaintance had….here is what she described he saw…

A group of soldiers, Christians, lying on the ground as a black fog hovered over them, threatening them. As the soldiers were lying on the ground, they were oblivious that they should be fighting the blackness.  To add to their apathy, shiny swords laid next to each one of them in their sheaths….ready to be used, but no one to take up their sword and fight. One soldier wandered through the field of apathetic, oblivious Christians. While walking, he heard a clinking sound…like metal brushing against something. He looked down to see a sword hanging at his side. He grabbed the sword out of its sheath and tried to arouse the other soldiers, but none of them would get up and fight.

That vision struck me. What an amazing vision, what a compelling vision.

It reminds me of the passage of scripture from Nehemiah. In chapter 4, Nehemiah is leading the people in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. However, there are neighboring cities trying to keep them from doing so. Nehemiah is threatened,  but he knows he can’t stop and that if need be, he will fight.

That message is true today…..if God has given you a mission, you can’t afford to get distracted, or stop, or give up.  In fact, the great commission that was given to all believers is the very mission we can’t give up on or get distracted from pursueing……to go out into the world and tell others about Jesus and His love, grace and redeeming blood.

Just like the soldiers that laid on the ground with perfectly good swords next to them, we get tired, we lay down and forget that we are in a fight. The enemy, the world hovers over us and can oppress us and make us lose hope, but regardless, we can’t forget the mission at hand.

Nehemiah does a couple of things in the face of fear to stay the course….

1)  Vs. 9 says, “But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” --- Nehemiah prayed, stayed on guard and protected himself. That is the perfect order – prayer, guard our hearts, be aware so we can protect ourselves.

2)  Vs. 14 says, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons,  your daughters, your wives,  and your homes!” --- Nehemiah focused his attention and energy on the greatness of the Lord. Inspite of the fear, Nehemiah kept his eyes on the Lord, not the threatening armies waiting in the wings. He also realized the impact his fight would have on generations to come.

3)  Vs. 17 & 18 says, “The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side.” --- Nehemiah had a sword and so did everyone else. We have a sword, the word of God. Nehemiah kept his sword strapped to his side. We are instructed to hide the word of God in our heart. All the builders worked on the mission with one eye aware of the enemy. They didn’t lose sight that there was an enemy. The same awareness is necessary for us today.

4)  Nehemiah 6:9 says, “They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining they could discourage us and stop the work. So, I continued the work with even greater determination.” --- this verse says it all. Life offers distractions….derailed opportunities that take us down a path so far from the mission God has given us. But we gotta go after it with an even greater determination.

 

Is there a dream God’s given you? An idea, talent, hope or goal that you have somewhere down in your soul…..don’t let it die. Work with even greater determinsation!!