Soldiers don’t carry dumbbells

 In the arena of war, soldiers are rigorously trained to be efficient and fierce. Every second, every movement, every action counts. One mistake, one delay can mean the difference between life and death. Every military in the world wants to make the fittest, fastest, and most effective fighting force on earth. He who is most deadly, wins the war.

 With so much at stake it is beyond imperative that each warrior is equipped with all that he would need to win the day, and nothing more, that he would not be slowed down. It is critical that there is no unnecessary gear taken which would result in extra weight for the soldier. Extra weight results in increased fatigue, and reduced movement speed and efficiency. The U.S. Army Field Manual, Chapter 21, Section 18 states: “The ability of a soldier to march and fight is directly related to his load. The maximum individual load limit cannot be exceeded as an infantry soldier will not accomplish his mission. Soldiers fight light with only the equipment required for the immediate mission.” For those in the field, extra weight can spell certain catastrophe for the soldier himself, and his team around him. 

 Soldiers don’t carry dumbbells. Warriors don’t wear ankle-weights. 

 Whether you like it or not, you enlisted in God’s army when you became a follower of Christ. You are a soldier of the Cross. You are loaded up with all the gear that you need to be successful in today’s mission: you have your armor, your sword, and your shield (Ephesians 6:13-18). You are equipped to take up your position and wage war against the forces of hell.

 You charge onto the field, pointing your sword suggestively at the enemy stronghold, fully intending to bring the enemy to his knees. Midway across the field, your armor buzzes and a small sound echoes through the field. *beep* *beep* *beep* You reach in your pocket, pulling out your smartphone, and see the notification “So-an-so just posted for the first time in a while. See their post.” Unlocking your phone, you find yourself in the middle of a battlefield scrolling through your Instagram feed.

 Sound ridiculous? Sound familiar? Whether we recognize it, or want to admit it, we are perpetually on a battlefield. Anything that slows us down or causes us to be distracted cannot be tolerated. It is for this reason that Paul urges believers to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," - Hebrews 12:1b. Anything that slows us down will be our demise.

Lay aside every weight

 When Paul talks about laying aside every weight, it can be easy to think that he is referring to repenting of sin. Actually, a weight is anything that slows us down in our walk with Christ, or distracts us from the battle raging on around us. Weights can take many forms: Social media, television, video games, friends, excessive work, hobbies, sports, or shopping; just  to name a few.

 These weights are not necessarily evil, until they begin to take the time that we would be spending in the Word,or in prayer, or in evangelizing, or in discipling; then they become sin. To use a personal example, I spend a fair amount of time on social media. There’s nothing wrong with that, until it starts to cut into my devotional time, or I become so addicted to it that I don’t want to go to church because of it, or a myriad of other reasons. As soon as a weight takes the place of importance in our hearts that rightly belongs to God, it’s time to cast it off. There is too much at stake. God’s calling is too important to neglect because your looking at Sally’s 30th picture of her trip to the mall today… a generalization, I know, but you get the point. 

 What about sports? Yeah, I know, you don’t want me to talk about that one. Soldiers don’t stay home from war to watch the game. Speaking of the game, what about video games? When you are called into the General’s office, will He care more about your devotion to Him and how you diligently carried out His orders or your latest high score? 

 Soldiers don’t carry dumbbells. Warriors don’t wear ankle-weights.

The Sin that Besets us

 Porn, gambling, alcoholism, witchcraft, and just straight-up loving the world are all things that we shouldn’t have to address in our churches and Christian circles… but we do. Believers everywhere give in to these and many other sinful pleasures. That’s right, give in. It’s a choice, not a condition. If you’re caught in sin, it’s not because you chose to not click on that seductive ad, or decided to reject your friend’s invitation to go out for a drink. You’re in sin because at some point or another you chose to be there.

 I can see the comments now, “I was tricked” or “The Devil made me do it” or “You don’t know what it’s like to be addicted.” Unfortunately, all of these statements are false. You were tempted, yes, but temptation does not have to equate action. You made the decision to give in to the temptation, and thereby sinned. Jesus was tempted, and yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). The Devil only has power to tempt you, but he is powerless to make you do anything. He is defeated! (Luke 10:19)

 Finally, I know what it’s like to be addicted to pornography for 8 years. I know the feeling of helplessness that surrounds such an addiction. I know the guilt that comes in knowing that what I am doing is wrong, and grieves my Father. I know the fear of being caught, or someone finding out about what I have been doing behind closed doors. Even today, I know the shame and hesitancy in writing this, knowing that once I say these things, everyone will know. To the chagrin of my pride, the message of Jesus Christ is worth it!

 It is because of this experience, that I know that my addiction was a choice. I chose to click on that first website… and the one after that, and after that. I chose to love my sin, and was unwilling to do what it took to be free from it. For so long I clung to my fleeting moments of pleasure, but am now left with only pain and regret. But it is also because of this experience that I know that it’s a choice to be free.

 A choice to trust that God means that “in [His] presence is fulness of joy; at [His] right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” - Psalm 16:11b. A choice to believe that God has defeated the enemy and that “if [I] resist the devil… he will flee from [me].” - James 4:7b. A choice to believe that God has prepared an escape route for me (1 Corinthians 10:13), and made it possible for me to be free! For years, I looked for a formula or a program that would take away my hunger for porn, and came up short. The answer is not in a program, the answer is the Person of Jesus Christ. It is only when I chose to trust Him, and burn the bridges that had taken me away so many times before, that I found freedom.

 My friend, you too can be free. The sin that you are dealing with easily besets you, and you are not strong enough to conquer it by yourself. Believe God! Trust in His promises, and cling to what He says! “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32

 Soldiers don’t carry dumbbells. Warriors don’t wear ankle-weights.

Lose the Extra Weight

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” - 2 Timothy 2:4. I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: there is too much at stake! Too many souls hang in the balance to become wrapped up in the thing of this life; the here and now, the temporal things. Too great is the calling that we have received. 

If there’s something that has diverted your attention from the task at hand, winning the world for Christ, then get rid of it! It’s not worth it! If you need help, then get help. Find accountability to live for Jesus, and then do it! Don’t waste your time with the here and now, live for the Kingdom, fight for the King! (Colossians 3:1-3) Trust me, the mission is worth it all!

 Soldiers don’t carry dumbbells. Warriors don’t wear ankle-weights.

 ~Luke Schwartz