AWOL

AWOL From Basic Training

Imagine a soldier who enlisted in the army but rarely showed up for basic training. He misses physical training, skips weapons instruction, avoids strategy meetings, disappears during drills, and sometimes does not even show up for chow. Yet when questioned, he proudly declares, “I am a soldier!” Would anyone take him seriously? What kind of soldier refuses the very training designed to prepare him for battle?

Now consider the Lord’s people.

Sunday assemblies, Sunday school, midweek Bible studies, revivals, fellowship meals, and other opportunities to gather are basic training. These gatherings teach us, strengthen us, encourage us, embolden us, help us strategize against the enemy, and build relationships with our brothers and sisters. Yet how many attend them faithfully? How many attend most of them? How many are simply AWOL?

We claim that we are soldiers of Christ, but can soldiers continually skip training and expect to be ready for battle?

Imagine a firefighter behaving this way. He skips training exercises. He misses safety meetings. He does not attend equipment demonstrations. He avoids practicing rescue procedures. He misses meetings where the department discusses emergency response plans. Then one night your house catches fire. Your children are trapped inside. Smoke is pouring from the windows, and someone tells you, “Do not worry, that firefighter is coming.”

Would you want the firefighter who continually skipped training?

What about a surgeon who rarely attended medical training? Would you want him performing your operation? Would you board an airplane knowing the pilot regularly skipped required training? Would you trust a police officer who refused firearms training, emergency preparation, and department meetings?

Why, then, do we imagine spiritual preparation is unnecessary?

Paul told Timothy, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Soldiers require discipline. Soldiers prepare before battle. Soldiers understand that training is not optional simply because they do not feel like attending.

Yet some believers treat every opportunity to assemble as though it were meaningless.

Sunday morning? Maybe.

Sunday school? Too early.

Sunday evening? Too much.

Midweek study? Too busy.

Revival? Depends what else is happening.

Fellowship meal? Maybe if nothing better comes along.

But work?

They are there.

Doctor’s appointment?

They remember.

Business meeting?

They arrive on time.

Lunch break?

They certainly do not forget that!

Ball game, vacation, family event, television program, shopping trip, or recreational activity? Somehow schedules can suddenly be rearranged.

So what is really important?

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Could our schedules reveal where our treasure really is? We can tell ourselves that God comes first, but what does our attendance say? What does our calendar say? What do our priorities say?

Someone may respond, “Attendance does not save you.” Certainly sitting inside a building does not automatically make someone faithful. But is that really the issue? The question is why someone who supposedly loves God has so little desire to learn His Word, encourage His people, strengthen relationships, and prepare for spiritual warfare.

Hebrews 10:24 and 25 tells believers to consider one another, provoke one another unto love and good works, and not forsake assembling together. Why? Because we need one another!

A soldier training alone misses something.

A firefighter training alone misses something.

A football player who never practices with his team misses something.

And a believer who continually separates himself from opportunities to study, worship, fellowship, learn, encourage, and be encouraged misses something too.

In the military, continually disappearing from duty brings consequences. In the workplace, continually skipping mandatory meetings eventually gets you fired. A firefighter who refuses required training will not remain on the department indefinitely.

Why do we expect the army of the Lord to require less commitment than earthly organizations?

We say there is a spiritual battle raging. We say Satan is attacking families. We say our children need biblical instruction. We say congregations need stronger relationships. We say believers need courage.

Then training time arrives.

Where is everybody?

Before claiming you are too busy, examine what you are never too busy to do.

Your attendance reveals priorities.

Your preparation reveals seriousness.

Your commitment reveals what matters.

The battle is already underway.

The question is simple.

Are you reporting for basic training, or are you AWOL?