The Real Battle

You are not all going to die, only two percent of you right here today would die in a major battle. Death must not be feared. Death, in time, comes to all men. Yes, every man is scared in his first battle. If he says he's not, he's a liar. Some men are cowards but they fight the same as the brave men or they get the hell slammed out of them watching men fight who are just as scared as they are. The real hero is the man who fights even though he is scared. Some men get over their fright in a minute under fire. For some, it takes an hour. For some, it takes days. But a real man will never let his fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty to his country, and his innate manhood. Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base. Americans pride themselves on being He Men and they ARE He Men. Remember that the enemy is just as frightened as you are, and probably more so. They are not supermen. - A portion of General George S. Patton's Speech from June 5th, 1944


     Billy wakes up one morning back in June of 1944.  He pinches himself, believing he is having a dream, but finds he has really been taken back in time.  What is the purpose?  He looks down to see he is wearing the uniform of an American soldier.  He is a member of the military.  The commanding officer gives a "Going to Battle" speech, promising the soldiers that there is an abundance of ammo, food and medical supplies for each of them.  Now all they need to do is fight the enemy.  They have had training and they each have a booklet of instruction in their supplies.
     As the soldiers start moving forward, Billy notices a German soldier hiding behind a tree.  He is motioning Billy to come talk to him.  Billy does.  The German soldier whispers to him, "You do not have enough ammo.  Your soldiers will die from their wounds as you have not been supplied with the medical supplies you will need to save them.  You will starve."  Billy sneaks back to the supply hut and begins to count ammo.  "What if we run out?  Is this enough?"  He then makes his way to the make shift hospital rummages through the supplies.  "Will this be enough?"
     As Billy turns to head to the kitchen, he runs into his commanding officer.  "What are you doing soldier?  There is a battle raging out there and you are supposed to be fighting in it."  
     "I'm a little worried sir."
     "All of us have a level of fear.  Some of us will die out there."
     "I'm not afraid of the battle sir.  I know how this war ends.  Don't ask.  It's that I'm afraid of running out of supplies.  Food, clothing, and ammo.  Even though I know we win this war, what if I die from lack of supplies?"
     "I have promised you we have enough.  It will be provided."
     "But sir, I think maybe we should put in an order for more provisions?"
     "Do you have your military Bible, Son?"
     "Yes sir."
     "Read Matthew 6:25-34 and then get out there and fight."

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

     One of the enemy's greatest weapons is fear. Many people get stuck in their needs for provision. God has promised to provide. All we have to do is believe. The enemy whispers in our ears the fear of running out of money, food, and all the basic needs of life, but God has made a promise. As long as we are counting the cans of beans in our cupboard, we are not out there leading others to Christ, focusing on what God wants to teach us, and growing in our relationships. Provisions are the first step in any journey. Don't get stuck in the first step. Don't be loading the truck with gear, while everyone else is enjoying the trip. Goliath would have eaten David for lunch if he would have been kicking around for a storehouse of stones. God gave him all the stones he would need and said "Go."

“I still find my corrupt heart longing for tomorrow's bread. I can make a good argument to the Lord about how effective I can be if He would supply me with enough advance funds. It's a little frightening to pray for TODAY's bread. That means I must pray again for tomorrow and believe again for tomorrow. My greedy heart is willing to be corrupted by a little bit of riches so that I see my warehouse full of loaves. I can make a good argument about how God won’t have to be bothered with me every day if He would only advance me about ten years worth of bread.” 
― Gayle D. Erwin, The Yhwh Style