Day after day, more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God. … seasoned troops, equipped and prepared for war … united AND determined to make David king …
(1 Chronicles 12:22, 35a,36b, 38a)
In our grossly war-torn world, there is often an over-abundance of global conflicts and an undersupply of able-bodied men and women to serve in the front lines of combat. This has necessitated the mandatory enlistment of troops in many nations, for some as a temporary measure, for others, as a constitutional mandate (to those who meet the stated requirements). Each country’s citizens are expected to honor the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, the latter of which include a call to arms if and when necessary. The cosmos universally enrolls each person into challenges and conflicts the moment one is born, further demonstrating these ubiquitous citizenship demands. Combat then becomes a question of when and not if, humanity’s fallen nature producing the fodder for its perpetuity and potential. Conscription has far-reaching effects for all involved, and in our physical world, one can only pray that it not necessary in one’s lifetime, or that if it is, results in zero to negligible casualties.
Similarly, a drafting into God’s army occurs automatically when a person naturalizes into God’s kingdom 1,2,3, and an engagement in spiritual combat ensues. Every lover of Jesus who has chosen to believe in, submit to and invite Jesus to be his or her Savior and Commander (i.e. has turned away from a self-directed life with its self-proclaimed tenets to a God-directed life yielded to His Word, ways and precepts) is conscripted the moment he or she choses to become a citizen of the kingdom of God. In my natural way of thinking, this is not good news. While I revel in the marvel of being a part a kingdom citizen, enlistment in an army of any kind seems like a cheerless, perilous commitment of epic proportions. My idealistic mind presumes that the natural consequence of defecting to God’s kingdom would be to blaze off into glory to enjoy the wonders of divine living4. The prospect of a combat-ridden existence, even amidst the glories of God’s distinguished presence – seems ill-conceived and unpalatable. Why would such a wonderful life encapsulate the unpleasantries of warfare? Why would conflict occur at all, if one has pledged their allegiance to the Leader of all leaders?
Though invisible, this conflict is so critical that Paul emphasized its great import to his protégé Timothy:
“Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. … Endure the harsh conditions of military combat along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers do not whimsically retreat from the battle ground or get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for if they do, they cannot focus on their target, win the war at hand, or please their commanding officer. Similarly, athletes cannot win the prize they aim for unless they stay on course and follow the rules.5
Fortunately for the lover of Jesus, there is great news! These predicted states of contention have predicted outcomes – we win! Battles may be fierce, fast and furious, and sometimes seemingly end in defeat, but when engaged with the proper battle gear6 and tactical tools7, always result in great victories.8,9,10 This is vital to know because most battles of life are not merely individualistic. They are usually a seemingly unconnected, intricately intertwined web of destiny-attacking occurrences targeted at God’s purposes for families, nations, and generations. The genocidal attacks against Jesus and Moses’ births and the collateral damage involving their peers were not merely about their individuality, but were aimed at the respective nations and generations they would rescue and revolutionize. Paul and the other Apostles lived in constant jeopardy because they, like Jesus, catalyzed disruptively innovative ideas, thought patterns, and practices, rattling the status quo and making it impossible for the world to remain the same. Haman’s plot against Mordecai was diabolically intended to destroy anyone who stood in the way of the holocaust planned for that era. The conspiracies against Daniel and his friends were geared toward obliterating any representatives and executors of God’s plan and purposes in that historical and prophetically pivotal kingdom, such that dark forces would be unhindered in their ability to run amuck with their evil intentions. David’s years as a fugitive were an attempt to deter God’s plan for Israel’s national perpetuity, for it was his covenant with God that sealed and secured the ensuing generations in that wise,11 enabling the complete fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.12
These examples are relevant because God has a master plan for humanity which satan has attempted to thwart since the beginning of time.13 That master plan involves the salvation of individuals, nations, and generations, and intends for Jesus to be displayed in such glory, that everyone is afforded an unbridled opportunity to see and receive Him as He really is – as God in His own right (being one of the Trinity), as the Son of God (the Father), and as the ONLY way to a relationship with God, conferring the benefits, privileges and responsibilities of kingdom citizenship to all who believe and receive Him. The end goal of this master plan is for as many as receive Him to live, serve and reign with God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit in all magnificence and glory by submitting to Jesus’s authority.14 This will be clearly evident when all kingdoms of the earth become Divinity’s reigning territory, while mankind who have received Jesus as their commanding officer will rule right alongside of Him.15
With this in mind, it is evident that every lover of Jesus and God-kingdom citizen is conscripted into God’s army for purposes much bigger and higher than themselves; way beyond anything they could imagine. Beyond being personal or even territorial, spiritual conflicts and their guaranteed victories to lovers of Jesus are intended (on God’s part) to ensure the succession of His kingdom people, purposes, and plans. The battles dark forces intend as deterrents to God’s plans are God-intended for advancement, for He anticipates and even takes advantage of enemy strategies and tactics.16 This truth leaves every individual with the choice to fall in line with God’s inevitable grand plans, or to live independently of Him and His purposes and do their own thing. Day by day, David’s army grew with highly dedicated, determined and dexterous individuals until it became mighty like God’s angel armies. Will you be one of such mighty men and women of renown and relevance in God’s end-time army?
I find it quite telling that these highly skilled warriors chose to align themselves with David because he was God’s chosen king over Israel, and defected to his camp to show their full support and allegiance. These men were not conscripted by mere national allegiance, but by a superior sense of destiny, purpose, and spiritual fidelity. This made them united for the cause of his rulership and determined to do whatever it took to ensure that it materialized. Other warriors and officials chose to stay with a depraved and floundering king who was obviously not God’s choice for that season (he lost his reverence for God and became lacking in the right heart constitution towards God and people). Although convicted of David’s eventual leadership (by their own admission when they pledged their sudden undying loyalty after Saul died and he was unanimously crowned), these other individuals did nothing to align with God’s purposes while David was still in exile. Their ill-placed loyalties kept them constricted to the wrong person and cause, or perhaps they lacked the courage to take the right stand. Either way, I cannot help but wonder what adverse effects their rebellious alliance produced on their destinies.
Friend, the spiritual parallel is evident. Soldiers of God’s kingdom army are lovers of Jesus who are sold out to the cause of His ultimate earth agenda, i.e., affording all people an opportunity to know, love, serve, and reign alongside of Him in His territory-taking plan. This then begs the question – for whose purpose and cause do you live – yours, pop culture’s, or God’s? To what camp do you belong and pay obeisance? Are you convicted, constricted, or conscripted, and that to the right army?
… “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”17
(Remembering with deep honor and appreciation all the departed heroes of the United States Armed Forces and those of other noble nations of the earth. Thank you for your immense sacrifices).
Bibliography
- 1 John 5:4 ↩︎
- 1 Corinthians 10:3-5 ↩︎
- Ephesians 6:10-14 ↩︎ ↩︎
- 2 Peter 1:3-4 ↩︎
- 1 Timothy 2:1; 3-5 ↩︎
- Ephesians 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 6:7 ↩︎
- 1 Samuel 23:2; 30:8; Proverbs 3:5-6 ↩︎
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 ↩︎
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 ↩︎
- 1 John 4:4 ↩︎
- 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalms 89:35-37; Luke 1:32-33 ↩︎
- Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17-18 ↩︎
- Genesis 3:1; 14-15 ↩︎
- 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Psalm 2, Psalm 110 ↩︎
- Revelation 17:14; Daniel 7:14,18; 27; Zechariah 14:9; Micah 4:7; Psalm 86:9 ↩︎
- 1 Corinthians 2:8; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20 ↩︎
- Revelation 11:15b ↩︎