We cannot say of this office, as we did of the last, that it belongs to
peace, for it is one peculiar to war. The commander is for the
battle-field, and still more for the well-arranged campaign. Thus our
Lord is presented to us as a Commander in the book of Revelation. {47c}
He then appears in His royal character, and at the same time heading His
army. He encounters all the powers of the world, but he is surrounded by
a little company of faithful followers, and He leads them on to victory.
The Church of God must be prepared for conflict. Till the Lord comes sin
will give the Church no peace. Till Satan is trampled down under His
feet, he will never rest in his deadly warfare against the Lord Jesus and
His little flock. The soldier of Christ must be a man of war.
The great Commander will have His own chosen and faithful followers—“they
that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” {48a} They are
marked from the world by a clear line of separation. They bear His name;
they wear His uniform; they rally round His banner; they are not ashamed
of His reproach; and wheresoever He goeth there it is their joy to follow
Him. There is no service like His, no commander so perfect, no struggle
so noble, no victory so certain and so glorious.
If we really be amongst the chosen band of faithful followers, our one
standard in life must be the will of our great Commander. We must be
watching each signal from Him, and owning no authority but His. From
first to last our spirit must be that of Saul of Tarsus, “Lord, what wilt
Thou have me to do?” {48b} This may sometimes imply a painful surrender,
a surrender of ease, and inclination, and, hardest of all, of pride. But
the soldier in the earthly army yields at once to his commanding officer,
and how much more should we, when He has chosen us to be His people,
blotted out our sins by His blood, called us into His own fellowship,
sealed us with His seal, and made us heirs of His Kingdom?