Encouragement

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He sits alone in the cool of the day and listens to the sounds around him. Birds whistle kingdom glory, trees rustle upon heavenly winds. He looks upward and sees the clouds drifting slowly overhead. He is wounded. A soldier who has lost his way. Once he was as the men of old; a mighty man of valor. With the marching orders of the King, he walked fearlessly into battle after battle swinging his shining sword and lifting high his faithful shield. Yes, this was the same soldier who had stood week after week and preached the uncompromised Word. His mission was clear and he never tried to be politically correct or to follow the latest trends for The King had taught him how to fight, how to avoid enemy arrows, snares and traps and that was more than good enough. And yet, now this once proud and devoted soldier sits, having been wounded with arrows that he saw coming but did not avoid in time. Sickness has ravished his body and peeled away his once hardened and refined muscles. The sharp mind that he once used to push back wolves and vipers has lost its razor edge. No longer can he provide the Shepherd’s food for the sheeps’ souls as he once did so very often. He has been wounded. Like Samson himself, his strength has left him and he has allowed the world to come in and blind him to all that is true and right. It would seem that all hope has fled and darkness now reigns.
Yet, just as the soldier feels that he will never rise up from his bed of affliction and transgression, he remembers words spoken long ago by a fellow soldier regarding the King. He penned such a wondrous verse as to give hope to all who have been wounded. It simply stated, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Although he has taught that verse so many times before, suddenly, it comes up off of the page and lives as never before. Its life breathes new hope into the soldier’s soul. He looks up towards the heavens and says, “thank You, Father, for reminding me that no sin or transgression is too big to be forgiven. I thank You for taking away every confessed sin and restoring me. I pray that You will strengthen and keep me each and every day.” And, with that, the soldier rises, takes up his sword and walks back into the battle.
Have you been wounded? Are you a soldier who once stood for God and proclaimed His Word? Have you lost your way? If so, remember this soldier’s story. Remember the never ending grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior. Now, its time for you too, to get up and get back into the battle. Rise and be counted as a faithful soldier in the Army of the Lord.

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