“Anything, Anytime, Anywhere – Bar Nothing”
~ Slogan of the 39th Infantry Regiment, US ARMY
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
~ 2 Timothy 2:1-7
Oh yeah, there is a lot of fun in being a Christian. The adventurous life in Him is absolutely real. You thought you wanted to travel? Give up your riches and see if He doesn’t send you all over the planet to share True Riches. You want real freedom of motion? Give up your right to all your stuff, beloved, and see if He doesn’t show you that you actually own everything on the planet.
He launches us into all sorts of cool stuff. He sends us places. We see things, share Him, and come back and tell stories to those who have not yet believed The Adventure true (are you one of them? As sure as He exists, friend, The Adventure is there to be lived).
There is another clear reality in the army of The Adventure. G_d is in control. He is the Captain of the Host. And He will position His troops as He sees fit.
The tip of the spear gleams bright. Names like St. Paul…, Barnabas…, St. Francis of Assisi…, St. Patrick…, William Carey…, Adoniram Judson…, David Livingstone…, George Müller…, Hudson Taylor…, Jonathan Goforth…, Amy Carmichael…, Watchman Nee…, C.T. Studd…, Nate Saint…, Jim Elliot… and K.P. Yohannan shine forth as examples of the bright Light that G_d flings forth into the dark world to bring glory to Himself and salvation and good to others.
But, even these (and thousands of other) front-line players had longer and more sustained moments in another position. They were in reserve. G_d spent years training, preparing, furloughing, re-positioning and re-assigning these warriors of the Faith. Just check out how much time the Apostle Paul (arguably THE REASON for the existence of western civilization and Christendom as we know it) spent on a boat, healing from his wounds, or in prison.
Friends, tips of spears have to have long, well-prepared and stout shafts. There must be some in reserve. Now, these are not the rear-echelon, senders and support folks (as VITAL as they are to the Great Commission). No, they are those that are being held, by Him for training, redeployment, and rapid reaction to the realities of the battle in which we live and move.
We can, at a moment’s notice, be flung towards another country to share the Gospel with one, or many – or into a gulag to comfort a brother or sister in need. And in the next moment, we can be instantly pulled from the outer front lines to fight internal skirmish lines along the whole unstoppable juggernaut of the Great Commission.
The question here is clear? Will we allow ourselves to live the life of a reserve soldier. Will we be AAA-0 for Jesus? AAA-o is the famous slogan of The 39th Infantry: “Anything, Anytime, Anywhere – Bar Nothing”
What if He tells us to move on a few days notice? What if He tells us to drop our plans for an exciting mission trip? What if He removes friends and family from our existence? What if He drops hours a day of needy people into our day-to-day life?
By His grace! May we go with the 39th Infantry: AAA-o!
Major Ian Thomas gave a great sermon on living AAA-o as a Christian.
