Key Word:- FIGHT
Title:- Scars, Wounds and War-Horses
Revelation 6:9,10 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying,” How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
The Christian’s call to arms is a difficult subject friends. However, it is somewhat easier when we recognize that though the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are never the less mighty in God (2 Cor 10:4, 5). We walk a challenging path and many times pure pacifism is not the right option. It certainly is not the option in the spiritual realm!
Yet how can we peacemaker sons of the Most High, love fiercely and then engage in warfare at the same time? How can we be the ministers of both life and death? How can we express goodness toward our enemies and have victorious greatness over them at the same time? How can we have voice and conquest? How can we have anger and embracing? How can we ferociously fight without falling into sin? Of course it’s difficult and of course it’s dangerous for Christians to engage in warfare! However, maybe we should expect to experience more of both this particular difficutly and danger than we do?
We live on an enormous battleground. The church is militant, is fighting, and is suffering victory and loss all along its forceful front. The shedding of tears and blood is evident in both present victory and defeat. Of course it is, for we are not yet home. I wonder then, if some of us will be greatly embarrassed at the Judgment Seat of Christ when we are asked to roll up our sleeves before the the Commander to all heavens armies and all the watching host! Will He look at them and us and repeat these lines:
Title:- Scars, Wounds and War-Horses
Revelation 6:9,10 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying,” How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
The Christian’s call to arms is a difficult subject friends. However, it is somewhat easier when we recognize that though the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are never the less mighty in God (2 Cor 10:4, 5). We walk a challenging path and many times pure pacifism is not the right option. It certainly is not the option in the spiritual realm!Yet how can we peacemaker sons of the Most High, love fiercely and then engage in warfare at the same time? How can we be the ministers of both life and death? How can we express goodness toward our enemies and have victorious greatness over them at the same time? How can we have voice and conquest? How can we have anger and embracing? How can we ferociously fight without falling into sin? Of course it’s difficult and of course it’s dangerous for Christians to engage in warfare! However, maybe we should expect to experience more of both this particular difficutly and danger than we do?
We live on an enormous battleground. The church is militant, is fighting, and is suffering victory and loss all along its forceful front. The shedding of tears and blood is evident in both present victory and defeat. Of course it is, for we are not yet home. I wonder then, if some of us will be greatly embarrassed at the Judgment Seat of Christ when we are asked to roll up our sleeves before the the Commander to all heavens armies and all the watching host! Will He look at them and us and repeat these lines:
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wounds nor scar? -
Amy Carmichael
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wounds nor scar? -
Amy Carmichael
Maybe Job was right, that unlike most of us Christians, it is only prepared war horses that can sniff the battle from afar, for only they are girded with strength and clothed with thunder from on high (Job 39:19-25). Maybe I’m not thinking right friends, but let me ask some of you today, some of you up for a fight, some of you frustrated at simply shining pews with your Sunday morning pants, some of you men who may be agitated in the slips waiting and ready for action: “Do you hear the sound of trumpets calling? Are the hairs on the back of your neck raised and your arms ready for action in the service of your king today?”. If so, then maybe you are a warhorse of the Lord and frankly, though you might frighten some of the old mares, you never the less need to go out and look for a fight. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and he who has nostrils, let him sniff!
Listen:- He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin. He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. At the blast of the trumpet he says, 'Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, The thunder of captains and shouting. (Job 39:19-25)
Pray:-Master. You came and brought a sword. You came to preach peace and to wage war. You came to unite and to divide. Lord help me, and keep me in Your holy boundaries, but Oh God don’t let me rust out. No Lord, please let me bust out! In Jesus name I pray, amen!
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