Free to Fight

I recently bought a re-print of a book written by Nathaniel Dwight (first published around 1840) called The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.  An interesting story with a spiritual application garnered my attention as I read through.  This passage can be found on page 8 of the reprint:

When General Whipple set out to join the army, he took with him for his waiting servant a colored man named Prince, one whom he had imported from Africa many years before.  He was a slave whom his master highly valued.  As he advanced in his journey, he said to Prince, "If we should be called into an engagement with the enemy, I expect you will behave like a man of courage, and fight like a brave soldier for your country."  Prince feelingly replied, "Sir, I have no inducement to fight, I have no country while I am a slave.  If I had my freedom, I would endeavor to defend it to the last drop of my blood."  The reply of Prince produced the effect on his master's heart which Prince desired.  The general declared him free on the spot.  The act was certainly highly to the general's honor; had he not done so, the character of Prince would have stood forth the fairest of the two.

Today every man is born a slave, whether he recognizes it or not.  We have inherited the sin of Adam and have been born into sin.  Our fathers going back to the very beginning have labored under the cruel oppression and tyranny of sin and death.  We have been born into this arrangement, just like many children literally born into slave bondage because their parents are slaves.  Slaves do not have the right to own land, and there is no one who really owns a square foot of God's earth.  Though land may stay in the family through inheritance, we can't take a title deed to a house, acreage, or money to the grave.  The wages of sin is death, and whoever dies in their sins deserves hell for eternity.  How rotten sin is!

But God be praised, who has given all people the opportunity to be liberated from the slavery of sin and death through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior!  Instead of inheriting eternal damnation for our sins, Christians are simply pilgrims who walk through this life having an eternal home secure in the heavens.  Jesus has blazed the trail, and those who humble themselves in faith and receive His righteousness will follow Christ's footsteps to His heavenly throne.  When we repent and believe in Christ, God declares us "free on the spot."  Because our sins have been cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus, atonement is complete.

We, like Prince, are also engaged in warfare.  But it is not the sort of warfare Constantine envisioned, using the cross as a banner to conquer the world.  2 Cor. 10:3-6 reads, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, [6] and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."  It is first an inner warfare.  We will be tempted through the deceitfulness of our own hearts to justify sin and entertain wicked thoughts and attitudes.  All kinds of allurements will dance before us:  wisdom of the world, fleshly lusts, favoritism, idolatry, godless philosophy, pursuit of wealth, etc.  God has given Christians the ability and duty to purge our lives of everything that challenges Christ's authority.  The warfare is also external.  Once we have confessed all our sin one by one and allowed Christ to remove the beam from our eyes, we can see clearly to encourage others to greater devotion with Christ.  Galatians 6:1 instructs us, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

We should never have the expectations of the general, that the slave Prince would fight for his interests without being free.  Sometimes Christians become judgmental of men and women still slaves to sin.  They berate a sinner for sinning!  That's like berating a bird for chirping!  If a born-again Christian is pursuing a lifestyle of sin without knowledge of it, we should seek to restore this person to God with a spirit of gentleness.  Can you imagine if Prince had been set free of slavery by the general and then screamed at his fellow ex-slaves for not fighting on the right side?  This spiritual fight we find ourselves engaged with need never go beyond the inner warfare.  But sometimes when we aren't looking for it or even wanting it the Holy Spirit will reveal something He wants us to act on.  Since we are free, let us live like free men and women.  Instead of going back to slavery to sin, may we honor God continually by keeping Christ first!  Jesus had the right to throw the first stone, but He offered grace instead:  "Go, and sin no more."