Behind Enemy Lines

My uncle died yesterday morning, early. He was a World War II veteran. He never talked much about the war. There was a reason for that. Talking is what gets you killed.

My uncle was in reconnaissance - a paratrooper. He would parachute into enemy territory, behind enemy lines. He recorded all the enemy locations he could, and then tried to make it back. Thankfully, he was successful.

Could you imagine what that was like? All alone, no one to talk to. And if you DID find someone to talk with, there was a chance they would turn you in.

Being a Christian, which my uncle ALSO was, is similar in some ways to the dangers of parachuting behind enemy lines. In many countries around the world, Christians are persecuted for their faith. Opening your mouth to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ can prove fatal.

We carry that same fear of persecution with us here in America. Thankfully, the threat of death is not at the level it is in other countries. But we can still be stereotyped and pigeonholed. We can still lose friends over our beliefs. Even family members can become estranged over our beliefs. 

So, what are we supposed to do? Well soldier, we are supposed to do our jobs to the best of our ability. And we are supposed to go one step beyond what recon paratroopers did in World War II. We are to stand boldly in faith, proclaiming the Gospel, regardless of the outcome.

Even The Apostle Paul knew this effort of his fellow Christians was going to be a battle when he wrote:

"Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:13-17

The life of a Christian is not an easy one. It can even be a battle at times. But what is our job, our duty as believers? It is to share the Gospel, to love God and to others, even our enemies. And then, when our mission is over, we are to go home to be with our believing brothers and sisters who have preceded us.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20