Getting Back In The Trenches
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain.” - John Piper
[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
Have you ever seen the beaches of Normandy in France?
The beaches are beautiful.
The beaches are peaceful.
The beaches are serene.
For example, just look at how nice it would be to stroll down the dunes of Normandy:
But if you have passed 5th grade, then you know that the beaches of Normandy weren't always a vacation destination. Instead, if you visited this coast in 1944, you'd be greeted by a swath of Nazi soldiers and potentially witness one of the bloodiest battles of WW2.
Do you see the difference?
In 1944, the beaches weren't beautiful.
In 1944, the beaches weren't peaceful.
In 1944, the beaches weren't serene.
During the D-day invasion, you wouldn't have taken a long walk on the beach, there would've been no picnics at sundown, and you indeed would not have fallen asleep sunbathing.
But if you have passed 5th grade, then you know that the beaches of Normandy weren't always a vacation destination. Instead, if you visited this coast in 1944, you'd be greeted by a swath of Nazi soldiers and potentially witness one of the bloodiest battles of WW2.
Here's my point — the way you operate during times of comfort is opposite to the way you operate during crisis.
Get Back In The Trenches
I believe there is an intense spiritual battle going on around us. For example, David Kinnaman, leader of Barna Research, the largest Christian research institute, says:
"Statistically, we have reached the point of irreversible decline in the American church. Meaning, there is nothing we can do, utilizing human mechanisms to turn the religious decline around." - David Kinnaman, Barna Research.
Everything we know about Generation Alpha, the generation coming behind Gen Z, only continues to become increasingly secular and post-Christian. And I hate to break it to you, but this kind of evil keeps advancing.
The war is raging. The battle is engulfing the world. And the casualties of the next generation are mounting.
My question is — are you living life as if you were on a holiday at sea or in the trenches?
I believe many Christians are living in their comfort zone while a generation is in crisis. And I fully believe the Spirit of God is calling people back to the edge of the battle. He is calling us back to His mission.
Will you answer Him?
How To Get Back Into The Battle
To be honest, many of us have lived in our comfort zones for so long that the thought of getting back into the trenches is disorienting and overwhelming. You may be asking yourself:
How do I practically start?
Where do I begin?
What do I do?
For those of us who have curated our environments for comfort and stability, the bar of entry may seem high. But it's actually more straightforward than you might know. For example, Leslie Newbegin says:
“The deepest motive for mission is simply the desire to be with Jesus where he is, on the frontier between the reign of God and the usurped dominion of the devil.” - Leslie Newbegin
Did you catch that? The starting point is to simply “be with Jesus.”
Because by being with Jesus, you will naturally leave your comfort zone. Why? As you walk with Jesus, you'll realize that he never calls us to LESS surrender to his mission.
He is always inviting us into more.
He is always taking us deeper into the battlefield.
He is always revealing the casualties around us.
You see when you get around Jesus, you realize the world isn't as beautiful as it seems. But on the other hand, when you get around Jesus, you know He is more beautiful than you ever dared dream.
Want to get back into battle? Just get around Jesus.
He'll take you there.
And he'll give you more strength, energy, and rest than a lifetime spent lounging on the beach.
For The Local Church 📍
Pastor Landon