Bottom Line Up Front: “Shields Up and Soldier On!”

Context: I received an early morning text from a dear friend. It was, true to this person’s form, full of encouragement. Before I share some of what it said, here’s the context. Maybe you can relate. Have you ever had a period in your life when you felt like the harder you worked, the progress just wouldn’t come? Maybe you were laboring for a promotion. Maybe you were hitting the gym harder. Maybe you were putting more miles on the track or treadmill. To be cliché, have you experienced, “One step forward, two steps back”? If we are honest, I think most folks would say, “Yes, of course.”

Segue: I’m currently in studies surrounding the biblical patriarch, Abraham. God used Abraham mightily. Abraham truly was God’s man, a man of faith in the truth-telling God, the God who is truth Himself. Multiple times, God came to Abraham and essentially said, “Trust me. Just trust me. And I’ll bless you.” In Genesis 12, for example, Scripture reads this way:

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3)

What’s Required: But do we understand in our bones what was required from Abraham? It wasn’t his work ethic; it wasn’t his talent; it wasn’t his charisma; it wasn’t his wealth. It was not anything for which Abraham could look within himself and boast about. It was believing God. It was trusting God at His word. Why? Because there are things that we sinners can do that God cannot: we can lie. God cannot lie. That would betray God’s nature, and God’s nature is holy and unchanging. Abraham believed God. He took God at His word. And God blessed Abraham, and the Seed of Abraham who is Christ.

Encouragement: And now, back to the opening illustration. I received a text. It said, among other things, “Please don’t let the slings and arrows of the enemy overwhelm you. As long as we labor for the gospel and the Bride, you know the artillery of the enemy is coming against us. Shields up and soldier on!” I cannot say it any better. “Shields up and soldier on!”