April 2022

Dear Cobham Park Church Family,
When I shop online, I often buy items from people who live on the other side of the country—or world. For example, I recently found an interesting piece of handmade pottery on the internet. But when I tried to buy it, the purchase wouldn’t go through. I found myself increasingly annoyed at this inconvenience. Then I saw the message posted at the bottom of my screen: “Dear customers: Sadly, we are at war, and normal business is now impossible. I hope to resume sales when the invader has been driven from our beloved homeland.” I hadn’t noticed that this particular potter lived in Ukraine. A chill ran up my spine as I realized what had just happened. Here I was, casually trying to buy something I didn’t really need from the security and comfort of my home. I’d been irritated because I wasn’t getting what I wanted fast enough. Meanwhile, this lady’s livelihood is on hold and her dreams are shattered. War has taken her husband to another part of the country. She now lives in daily danger of enemy bombardment which could destroy her home or take her life. And yet she somehow concentrates on the hope of freedom and eventual victory.
War has a way of cutting through nonsense to what is most important. In combat, one usually doesn’t have the luxury of frivolous creature comforts, petty politics, and other civilian distractions. Lives are on the line. Terrible sacrifices must be made. Personal preferences must be set aside and orders quickly followed.
The New Testament often speaks of faith on a war-footing. Jesus makes it clear that this doesn’t mean we should be killing people or itching for a fight (a point many Christians seem to have forgotten). Our spiritual warfare has more to do with alertness, endurance, and courageous obedience to Christ our commanding officer.
We are, however, constantly tempted to drop our guard—to “make peace” with the world as it is. This usually starts in the trenches of daily life, where we’d prefer a casual civilian style of discipleship. We therefore make little moral concessions which we think will make life easier. But the devil can’t be appeased or negotiated with. He’s only out to take more from you—to steal, kill, and destroy. As soldiers in enemy-occupied territory, let’s concentrate on our hope of freedom in Jesus! His cross and resurrection ensure our eventual total victory. He won’t leave any of us behind. But the enemy is still prowling about. We can’t afford to get distracted now: this is war!
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2Timothy 2:3-4; NKJV).
In the Love of Christ our Commander,
Pastor Keith