The training to become one of the elite Royal Marines Commando is gruelling. It is designed to test and build endurance and courage.
Anyone wanting to join the elite Commandos must endure over 30 weeks of training, designed to eliminate anyone that doesn’t meet the standard. At the end of this period, each recruit is put through four tough tests over a period of five days.
First, there’s an endurance run over rough terrain, through water and tunnels, with a four mile run back to base.
Next, there’s a nine mile speed march, a team effort.
Then, there’s the assault course, designed to test strength and agility, with challenging obstacles to overcome.
Finally, the recruits face a thirty mile night run over unknown terrain. They are laden with heavy packs, and have to battle through tiredness to complete the course.
If they are successful, they get to wear the coveted green beret and become part of a fighting force with an incredible reputation.
What a challenge! Hundreds apply, only a few make it. We admire the marines for what they achieved, yet sometimes we forget the price that they have paid for it. They have been put through rigorous training, for both their minds and bodies, to prepare themselves to be part of this elite fighting force.
For Christ-followers, we can think the Christian life is more like a party than a battle, which is why we can be unprepared when we discover ourselves under attack.
When attacks come we find ourselves unfamiliar with the weapons that we have been given to fight with.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
1 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)
It’s time we took a lesson from the Commando’s and got ready. If we want to be part of an effective fighting force for our God, we need to train. Let’s not stay as raw recruits, unable to defend ourselves and unable to use our weapons.
So, let’s prepare our minds and our hearts for what lies ahead. We know our path is likely to be bumpy, with ups and downs.
We will need courage, strength and determination to hold us steady on the course, whatever challenges life may throw our way. As we do so, we can trust God to be building our character and strengthening our faith.