A Sign Among Us - Chapter 16 - Precious Cargo

'And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.' II Timothy 2:2

I believe this verse should be a foundation for us as men. I think of us. We know we are in need of growth. We can both acknowledge that and decide to grow, or we can deny it and make excuses. Whether we decide to grow or make excuses we will have struggles and we will be under attack.

If we choose to make excuses, we can do that alone. But most likely we will find a group of men that feel the same way we do and justify our actions with those men of similar faith.'

If we choose to acknowledge that we are in need of growth and decide to grow we should not do that alone. We need to be part of a team, acommitted group of faithful men. When we are part of that team keep in mind we will be under attack. When a group of men are banded together and are under attack, the word to usually describe those men is referred to as soldiers.

Ezra

Ezra led the second body of exiles that returned to Jerusalem, from Babylon in 459 B.B. He obtained leave to bring with him a company of about five thousand Israelites. He was loaded with gifts for the house of God. By our standard these gifts were in the neighborhood of twenty million dollars, a very precious cargo.

What did they do? Did he ask the king for an escort? Did they ask the king for a band of horsemen to help against the enemy? What if they were under attack? They would loose their precious cargo. Who is stronger? The king who gave him permission to leave or the Lord? Our Lord.

They prayed and fasted for three days. They were put into order for their march across the desert. They were to start their journey, which was going to take four months.

This group of men described as, 'The first well-defined example of an order of men...' There were men who devoted their lives to the study of the Holy Scriptures, in order that they may be in a condition to interpret them for the instruction and edification of the church.

'Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.' Ezra 8:21-23

It is the story of Ezra and his proclaiming a fast. He needed the Lord's hand of protection. He needed the Lord's direction in finding a 'right way,' the right way to go. '... that we might afflict ourselves before our God.' '... that we might humble ourselves before our God.'

He needed the right way for themselves and his little ones. The fast is also so they can stay focused. Focused on the Lord to provide all their substance.

Little wonder then that Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek God's protection for this trip without an escort. He knew God's hand is on all them that seek Him. He also knew that God's power and wrath is against all those who forsake Him. 'So we fasted and besought our God for this...' And He answered their prayers.

Are we carrying a precious cargo? Are you specifically carrying a precious cargo? What has the Lord entrusted to you? Honestly, stop and take inventory. I believe our cargo is very precious. A very close friend told me that, 'A true measure of what we have of value is to count the things that you have that cannot be bought with money.' The cargos that we are entrusted with are more precious than can be contained with a dollar sign.

Remember, we are a team. We need to commit closely with like-minded men. On a much broader sense we are part of a team of men. We are soldiers together.

A Committed Group

Let me tell you a story of my oldert son's first football game. This group of ten year olds, were warming up before their game on the upper field, Coach wanted them there early. The game was going to begin on the lower field in about thirty minutes. As our team was practicing, the visiting team, the enemy, started to file in one at a time. You could see our men eye them as they were straggling in. They looked big. They looked big from far away, with their pads and helmet from that distance. Coach kept them focused on their drills, encouraging them with the successful repetition of the basics before their big game. Then the talk...

'OK Captains up front, men fall in behind, single file. Here is what you are going to do. You are going to walk down this hill. You are going to walk single file. You are going to stare at the man's helmet in front of you. That is all you are going to see. No looking side to side, no talking and no waving to your friends or parents. You are going to stay focused straight ahead. I don't want to see any gaps in this line, you men are going to stay tight together as you walk to the battlefield.'

'Keep listening, eyes on me, I'm the only one talking. When you approach the field, as soon as your foot hits the perimiter of the gate you are going to run. You are going to run as fast as you can. You are going to run in the same footsteps as your teammate in front of you. You are going to run to the fifty-yard line, when you hit it, take a sharp left. When you get to the other side of the field you are going to take another sharp left. Continuing to follow in the footsteps of your teammate. You are going to circle the goal post and end up in the center of the field. At the center of the field you are going to form a circle. Captains, I want you in the middle. Go through the warm up exercises you have practiced for all these weeks. You don't need me leading you. You know what you have to do. Are you ready? I can't hear you, are you ready? Once more, are you ready? OK, now march.'

They started their march. Not a sound, not a gap, just a team in unison.

They marched down the hill. All the spectator's eyes turned to them, cameras flashing, parents and siblings cheering. As the soldiers walked past the snack bar, everyone turned to watch. Dads with little girls on their shoulders stopped and clapped in awe. As dad had a tear in his eye, and little sister put her candy in her mouth so she could clap for big brother with both hands.

The announcer started the music, as he proclaimed, 'I want everyone on their feet as I give you the Mechanicville Red Raiders.' The music was amplified, someone turned on the 'smoke machine' and the first captain's foot hit the perimiter of the fence. One, two, three, four as they shoot out of the starting gate in rapid succession. Just as Coach stated they turned left at the fifty-yard line, with everyone on their feet. Left again, at the other side of the field. Spectators were screaming their favorite teammate's name with encouragement. Then around the field goal post.

At this time the Red Raiders have almost totally encircled the visiting team, the enemy, who was warming up in their own way. We made it to the center of the field in the most perfect circle, arms width apart with the Captains in the middle. The warm up drills began. The visiting team was in awe. What had they just seen? Who is that? We have to go up against them? The visiting team's coach tried to rally his troops, but to no avail. He tried to convince his men that this group of soldiers are not the team they appear to be.

They were the team they appeared to be. They were a committed group of faithful men. They were soldiers, ready for battle and yes they won the game.

'Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.' II Timothy 2:1-4

Let me tell you a little more about this team. When they go to an away game. When they are fighting the enemy on their own turf they do the same thing. They wait until the enemy is on the field. They line up in the parking lot. The soldier's loved ones give them a once over. Making sure their shoes are tied, making sure their mouthpieces are in and making sure their pads are all in order. Their leader gives them similar words of encouragement that they need and they march on that field together.

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