"Momma, why does that man have all those shiny things on his coat?"
"He's a soldier, honey."
"What's a soldier, and what are they for?"
"A soldier fights evil, like a superhero. Those are awards and medals he has earned for his accomplishments and battles he has been through."
"Why does he have so many?" little Jake asked, as only a curious six-year-old boy could.
"Well, Son, he has been a good soldier for a long time and has fought in several battles."
"Momma, when I'm big, can I be a good soldier like him and get me some medals?"
"Maybe you can, Son. Right now, you need to enjoy being a little boy and having fun."
Jake later fought in several battles and won medals to prove it. But what about us in our Christian lives? Are we good soldiers for the Lord? We may not have a chest full of medals, but with each battle, we should get better.
Jake didn't receive all his medals at once. He fought many battles and had many accomplishments. Those medals signified the years and effort he spent becoming a good soldier. After years in his career, he undoubtedly instructed younger recruits on how to survive and become good soldiers.
As Christians, we should improve with age and experience. The storms of life that devastated us as young Christians should be minor inconveniences after years of serving the Lord. Every gust that blows against us shouldn't create a catastrophe in our spiritual lives.
The soldier never knew the impact he had on that little boy. Younger Christians should view more mature Christians in the same way. Our faithfulness and the way we conduct ourselves through the hardships we face should encourage others and inspire them to become strong and firmly established in their faith. We should be more battle-hardened the longer we walk with the Lord. We may not have a chest full of medals, but others should see our joy and quiet confidence in our Lord.
Let your life exemplify a God who is always faithful and can deliver, regardless of the circumstances.
Andy is a published multi-award-winning author with devotions appearing on the Christian Devotions website as well as the CBN website. He is a contributing author in the Starr Ayers/Stephanie Pavlantos book Room at the Table. Currently, he is working on his first novel and is assembling a book of inspirational Scripture-based short stories along with moral, personal, family, and comical stories. Andy is the founder and director of H.O.P.E. Ministries in Candler, NC. While operating primarily as a food ministry, they also provide backpacks, Easter baskets, and Christmas shoebox gifts to crisis pregnancy centers, domestic violence shelters, schools, government agencies, and other ministries. They also provide disaster relief and aid for unwed mothers and their children.