We are all familiar with camouflage, or ‘camo’ as we like to call it. We most commonly see it when hunters are preparing to hit the field in search of game. But this special clothing was originally perfected by the military. The main idea, of course, is to blend in with your surroundings so that you are not so easily detected by the enemy. More recently, since our army has been fighting wars in the desert, the patterns have been modified to help hide soldiers in that environment. There are even special camo types for arctic or snowy conditions.
This effort to disguise oneself to avoid detection by enemies is a good thing in the armies of men. But a problem arises when soldiers in God’s army (2 Timothy 2:3) try to do the same. Remember, ‘camo’ is designed to make one ‘blend in’ to the surroundings. But, Christian soldiers should make no effort to do so. Unfortunately, many do. We see too many who want to talk, dress, and act like the worldly folks around them. They want to go to the same places and do the same things. In short, they want to hide their real identity and avoid detection as true disciples.
Why would a Christian do this? Jesus targeted the problem when He said: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). Sadly many are “ashamed” to show their attachment to the cause of Christ. The outcome for them, as Jesus warned, will be eternal loss.
May we all develop the unwavering devotion of the apostle Paul, who boldly said: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16). May we, like him, be able to say in the end: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
– by Greg Gwin