The Christian Life Compared to the Navy's Seal Training

 

1 Peter 2:22-25

Give thought to this, all Christians have been called to follow in the steps of Jesus?  Have you pondered what that would look like?  Verse 23 states, “When he was reviled, (hated, loathed, detested, abhorrent, depicted,) he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”  (Emphasis added)  What could we compare most Christians to; I’m not sure this is the best example, but let’s say you went to the Navy’s Seal training, it is voluntary, but it does have requirements that must be met:

Those wishing to volunteer for SEAL training have to:

• Be an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy
• Be a man (women aren't allowed to be Navy Seals)
• Be 28 or younger (although waivers for 29- and 30-year-olds are possible)
• Have good vision -- at least 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other (corrective surgery is also possible)
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
• Pass a stringent physical screening test that includes the following procedure:
1. Swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes or less, followed by a 10-minute rest
2. Do 42 push-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
3. Do 50 sit-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
4. Do six pull-ups, followed by a 10-minute rest
5. Run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in less than 11.5 minutes

Once a potential SEAL qualifies for training, the real fun starts.

 

For my example to make sense, let us say the person is approved for the Seal training and passes all but the last week of the 25 weeks of training, and stays in the Navy, but never sees combat, in fact gets a job at the Pentagon, but often refers to himself as a Navy Seal.  Folks, he did not finish the course, he did not become a Navy Seal, in fact he never was in danger and lived a life of ease, and was considered by most a great success.  Only one problem, he did not finish, and he is not a Navy Seal.

Those wishing to sign-up for the Christian Army, must be invited by the Holy Spirit, but Jesus made the invite to “Whosoever will come” but once you accept the call, the training begins, it’s not 25 weeks, it’s not church membership, it is studying to show yourself approved a worker that needs not be ashamed, it is renewing your mind by rejecting your old way of getting your needs met, and by putting on the life of Jesus Christ.  Jesus tells us that many have been called but few are chosen.  Many a person who goes by the name of Christian are like the example of the guy who opted out of Seal training in the 24th week of training.  I do not need to ponder verse 25, I’ve often lived it out, but I’ve returned to Jesus, my Shepherd and Overseer of my soul.  Verse 25, “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice