by Dan McCollam

Bravery, obedience, service, and sacrifice. 

Today, in America, we celebrate our soldiers, past and present, who protect our borders and our values. I thought it might be appropriate to honor them in this message as well.

Today, I want to look beyond the observance. Veterans teach us valuable lessons about sacrifice, courage, and dedication. Just as soldiers dedicate their lives to protect and defend, we are called to live out our faith with similar commitment and resolve. 

The Bible often uses military metaphors to illustrate the Christian journey. Paul, writing to Timothy, encouraged him to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12), and Paul instructed the believers in Ephesus to "put on the full armor of God," (Ephesians 6:11). These words remind us that faith requires active engagement, not passive belief. Like soldiers in battle, we are tasked to press on with bravery, obedience, service, and sacrifice. 

1. Bravery: Running Towards the Battle 

Faith, at its core, is about courage. David demonstrated this by charging quickly towards Goliath when others retreated (1 Samuel 17:48). Similarly, Paul, when his impending suffering in Jerusalem, became evident, he willingly embraced his path, declaring, “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die…for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:12-13). When his friends warned him of coming hardship, Paul replied, "Yep, that's what I signed up for." 

Faith does not shy away from challenges but boldly faces them, trusting in God’s strength and provision. 

2. Humble Obedience: Following Orders Without Question 

Faith isn’t just about courage; it’s about surrender. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” This is a call to follow God’s commands even when we don’t fully understand the path ahead. Faith focuses on the Commander and what He says with quick obedience.

True faith submits to God’s guidance without needing all the answers, trusting that He sees the bigger picture. Faith is an action, not a thought; faith follows the leader. 

3. Service: Fighting for Others 

Faith compels us to serve others, sometimes without seeing immediate results. The heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 embraced promises from a distance, understanding that they fought not only for themselves but for future generations. 

Know that whenever your actual fight is disproportionate to the circumstance surrounding it, you are likely fighting for more than yourself. Your victory will affect the victories of others. 

Many fight for destiny (my life, my vision), but good soldiers fight for legacy. Good soldiers don’t fight solely for their own sake—they fight for a legacy that extends beyond their own lives. 

4. Sacrifice: Enduring to the End 

Endurance is a defining quality of a good soldier. Jesus, setting His face “like flint” towards Jerusalem, exemplified this commitment to God’s mission (Isaiah 50:7). 

Endurance in faith is about standing firm when circumstances grow difficult, trusting in God’s faithfulness even when outcomes seem uncertain. Good soldiers don’t quit when conditions are unfavorable; faith doesn’t either. 

So, today we honor the men and women who have fought for our freedom and our values, let’s also remember our own enlistment in God’s army. Our faith journey requires us to run to the battle courageously, follow God obediently, serve others selflessly, and endure sacrificially. This is the good fight of faith. 

In His service,