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9/9/01 Past/Future Articles |
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9/9/01 Past/Future Articles |
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During one of the battles at Shiloh of the Civil War, a young boy, who was serving as the drummer for a Northern regiment, was ordered to beat “attack.” Responding to his sharp summons, the troops stormed up a hill, but met fierce enemy fire and came to a halt. The captain called to the boy to beat “retreat.” The boy drummed, but again he beat “attack.” I said “retreat,” the officer shouted. Tears came to the boy’s eyes. “Captain,” he answered, “attack” is all I know. They never taught me to beat “retreat.” Hearing the familiar signal, the men resumed their onslaught, and to their own surprise captured and took the hill.
When one becomes a true N. T. Christian, his only orders are to march forward serving God and fighting sin. He must face the worst enemy mankind has ever known, the devil. Peter describes this enemy and warns: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). Paul teaches: “Nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27), and “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). There is no turning back! When the going get rough, it is a temptation to retreat, but the Lord wants us to continue our attack and never retreat.
Jesus had the apostle John to write to one of the seven
churches of Asia: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about
to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be
faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation
2:10). Paul wrote: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your
labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I
Corinthians 15:58). To the Galatians: “And let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal.
6:9).
b.b. bristow