P52: the battlefield

They stood unwavering.  The flat ground in front of them stretched out far beyond the black, armor-crusted wall to the mountains beyond.  Enemies were pouring forth, bent on death and destruction, but still they stood.  Some hearts may have felt faint with the thought of impending doom, but still they stood.  There was no hope of victory for this rabble group of men, but still they stood.  They were the last defense of freedom on earth, but still they stood.  

One man stood before them, with the strength of a king and courage of a bear. He was speaking to the group.  Loud and clear, his words rang above the din, cutting to the hearts of the fainthearted.  The words were simple and strong.  He spoke of certain death and doom, and yet the fear of that fate did not cause him to stop.  He was asking them to stand with him and fight.  

What sort of thoughts were filling the minds of these men, the last hope for earth?  What sort of loyalty and commitment would help them stand?  What kept them from running away from the fight?  Why did they go to war in the first place? 

If you’ve ever read or watched the Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King, then this scene might seem a little familiar.  Of course, it is the last battle for Middle Earth.  The king is going be battle to draw the enemy away from those who are trying to destroy the ring.  It’s a suicide mission; they knew if from the start, but that didn’t deter them from the battle.  Aragon makes a final speech for valor and bravery and making a last stand, the words still give me chills even though I’ve read the book and have seen the movie a dozen times. 

As I watched this familiar movie again, I was suddenly struck with the brevity of the story.  Imagine a world that is being threatened out of existence.  Those who still want peace and safety are driven to put their lives on the line for such a hope.  They do not think of themselves, but rather the generations after them that will take up their stead in the world.  They are committed to the cause and loyal to the king.  Nothing, not even the surety of death, will cause them to waver from the goal of a better world. 

And yet, I look at these men and women—even though just a story—and wonder at the waste.  How many people in our society today are hoping for the same things as the people of Middle Earth?  It is worthless really.  It is the waste of a life on the hope of a better world, without the hope of Christ. 

We fight battles too.  Our foe, not like the orcs of Mordor, is sin and death.  Greater than physical enemies, they are the spiritual forces of wickedness.  Once, we were children, bound under them like the rest of mankind, but God was gracious to send His Son to defeat that foe.  Those saved in Christ, are saved from the wrath of God by faith in Jesus Christ, who is the satisfaction of God. (Ephesians 2)  What a hope to live in: the knowledge of God our Savior who defeated the sting of death and the power, presence, and penalty of sin! (1 Corinthians 15)  What a great salvation, because of our great Savior!  We have more reason to stand against the flesh that fights us everyday because of our Savior.  We do not fear the end, since He has been there.  He conquered those foes; we have nothing to fear.  

This morning, my pastor was preaching, in his series on Hebrews, from chapter two.  The author of Hebrews is giving a warning and a promise to his readers about the temptation to drift away from the truth of salvation by following impulses, emotions, and in our society, the fast-paced information age.  He reminds them of the great salvation that they have in Jesus Christ who is superior to everything else.  He is a sure foundation; nothing will waver that has been grounded in Him!   

In Christ, we stand.  

"Be steadfast, immovable; 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that in the Lord 

your labor is not in vain." 

~ 1 Corinthians 15:58