Worthless Bravery In Battle (Wasted Courage). By JAG August 10, 2021 First, love God with all your heart, obey Him, then be successfully-brave during deadly death-dealing battles. The fighters of the tribe of Manasseh were Spartan-like. "They were brave warriors, famous men", but "they were unfaithful to God" so the Lord delivered them into the hands of Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria, who took them into exile captivity, and slavery. (1 Chronicles 5:23-26.) The Spartans were brave and famous too. But today Sparta exists only in our imaginations, our books, and in our movies. The Spartan-like warrior General George Patton said, "The fixed determination to acquire the warrior soul, and once having acquired it, to conquer or perish with honor is the secret to victory." That isn't true. "Warrior soul" does have its useful place in the Drama Of Life ("There is a time for war" Eccl. 3:1, 8 but if nations want to survive General Time (who is a fierce cold-hearted killer) they need more than battle-bravery and fighter's fame ~ they need the favor, blessing, and protection of the Sovereign God. In the world of men today there is much hate and evil afoot. "Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was. So will it always be. In time all foul things come forth."__Thandril, the Elvinking of the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood. Mankind is a warrior species. Today, 21st century, the human race has not yet outgrown its love of war. Humans are combatants ~ fierce ferocious fighters who forever fight military or political battles. Homo homni lupus (man is a wolf to man). One U.S. Senator, Arlen Spector from Pennsylvania, wrote a book about his time with the politicians in Washington D.C. and titled it Life Among The Cannibals. "Only the dead have seen an end to war." Happy Note: Al this war-stuff will be over one day (Rev. 21:3-5) . . . but not right now. In the certain-coming battles of the 21st century the men of America (and women) will urgently need the praise, approval, and shielding of the God Of Battles (Exodus 15:3) in order to emerge victorious against the onslaughts of General War and General Time. Wars, military wars or political wars, are inevitable but God will fight for The Good and for His People. "The LORD is a Warrior" (Exodus 15:3) . . . Yet, peace, not war, is here being celebrated. The best (and noblest) soldiers are absolutely-fierce reluctant warriors whose motto is "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God."__The Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah (Matthew 5:9) The best (and most dangerous) warriors are the ones who take to heart, "if it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men." Romans 12:18 But sometimes its not possible. And the absolutely-fierce reluctant warriors who prefer peaceful solutions to human disagreements have nevertheless demonstrated a fierce locked-down determination to fight fiercely and ferociously against evil-tyranny, to defend the good, and destroy the evil. One example: America and The Allies came together (1941 - 1945) with the edge of the bloody sword and stomped to death German Nazism and Italian Fascism. World War 2 was a just war. It had to be fought. Hitler and Mussolini were dead-set in their Free Wills and craved war and world domination. America, defending freedom, lost over 400,000 dead in World War 2. Hero's they were. The absolutely-fierce reluctant warriors say to all men, Come let us peacefully settle our differences. But to the would-be enslaving tyrants who demand their surrender and that they lay down their weapons: Molon Labe. And they then quote: "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your families, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes." (Nehemiah 4:14) Yet, no sane person wants war. War is metal flying through the air ripping off arms and legs leaving stumps. War is facial disfigurement. People that want war have never walked through those special wards in VA Hospitals where doctors care for the seriously and permanently-damaged hero's. War separates husbands and wives. War breaks the hearts of families. The Lord Jesus was sent to eventually save us all from the ravages of war, and He will do exactly that in due time (Rev. 21: 3-5). Meanwhile we pray for peace among all nations, we remain proudly armed to the teeth, and we remember every minute of the day, that loving God and obeying Him is the only path to victory when fighting military (and political) wars. [] Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? ``
