Am I A Soldier of the Cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross,
a follower of the Lamb,
and shall I fear to own his cause,
or blush to speak his name?

Must I be carried to the skies
on flowery beds of ease,
while others fought to win the prize,
and sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
to help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
supported by thy word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war
shall conquer though they die;
they see the triumph from afar,
by faith they bring it nigh.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
and all thy armies shine
in robes of victory through the skies,
the glory shall be thine.

Yesterday’s question was essentially a question of humility – “Who am I?” to deserve the forgiveness of God.  Today, the question is not about humility, but about obedience and introspection.  “Am I a soldier of the Cross?”  This song was written by one of the most famous English hymn writers, Isaac Watts. This hymn asks believers several important, yet challenging questions.  The words of this hymn are truly convicting for me because I don’t have good answers to Mr. Watts heart penetrating questions. 

I also wanted to share with you a story related to this song about two soldiers of the Cross.  Evangelist D.L. Moody in the 1870’s was in need of a singer to travel with him as he preached the Gospel.  One night in Indianapolis, a young tax collector was asked to sing at the convention Moody was speaking at the last minute.  This young man was Ira Sankey.  After the service, Moody bombarded Sankey with lots of questions.  He finally convinced Sankey to meet with him the next day at six o’clock.  Sankey agreed and when Moody arrived the next day, he grabbed a large box and asked Sankey to stand on it and start singing.  Sankey began singing “Am I a solider of the Cross?”  People walking by were amazed at Sankey’s voice, and then listened to Moody street preach for 25 minutes.  They then followed the two men to an Opera house where Moody preached the message of the Gospel.  This encounter began three decades of ministry with D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey.

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• “Flowery beds of ease” –  I don’t know about you, but this phrase convicted this 21st Century American Christian.  Our lives in America, for the most part, are truly lives of ease.  We have modern conveniences that makes our life so easy – washer/dryer, automobile, and dishwasher.  You can even buy a solar-powered lawn mower that mows your grass for you and you never have to lift a finger.  I don’t think that Jesus promised “flowery beds of ease” when He said “In this world you will have trouble.”  I don’t think he was thinking about a life of comfort when He said “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”  The Christian life is supposed to be one of self-denial and taking up our cross.  It will be a life of trial and tribulation.  I am convicted about the things I complain about as it relates to Church when I realize I am resting on “flowery beds of ease.”  Lord, help me!!

• “Is this vile world a friend to grace?” – I thought this was an interesting question.  Do you consider the world vile?  Or have you grown to love this world, and think that it is not bad at all?  This world is vile because it is a fallen world.  A world wrecked by sin.  A world with famine, disease, violence, hatred, racism, poverty, pollution, cancer, and so many other awful things.  This world is not a friend of grace.  This world is a constant reminder of Adam’s sin and the fall.  A reminder that there is no hope outside of the grace of God.  This world is not our friend.  But we can take the fallenness of this world, and use it’s sinfulness to point others to Christ.  The only One who can redeem this vile world.

Although I have never served in the military, I have several relatives that have.  My Grandfather, my Dad, several Uncles, and a couple of cousins.  There are a couple of different status’ a military person can find himself in.  “Active Duty,” the “Reserves,” or “Discharged.”

So as a soldier of the Cross, where do you find yourself today?  Are you in active duty in the Lord’s army?  Are you on the front lines of ministry?  Were you once active, but now feel like you are in the reserves – active only a couple of times a month?  Or perhaps, do you feel like you have been discharged from His service?  No longer useful in His army.

God’s army has no reservists.  God hasn’t discharged any of us from being active in the battle.  No matter your age or your place in life, God is needing active duty soldiers to fight the battle.  Will you be a soldier of the Cross?