Napoleon and the Private

Napoleon and the Private

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

   There is an story about Napoleon, the legendary French leader, which may or may not be true.  But it’s a good story, so here it is.

   It’s true that Napoleon had a prize horse he valued above any other and he rode it everywhere.  I found different versions about his horse, but the horse’s name seems to have been Marengo.  The story goes that one day Marengo was spooked by something and bolted away from Napoleon.  An alert soldier, a private, was already mounted and he spurred his horse and gave chase.  He caught up to Marengo and grabbed the reigns and led the horse back to his general.  Napoleon took his horse’s reigns and said simply, “thank you, Captain.”  The private was surprised and thanked Napoleon and immediately went to his tent and gathered up his Private’s uniforms and went to the Quartermaster and turned them in and drew Captain’s uniforms.  He went back to his tent and packed his belongings and moved to the officer’s quarters.  He then went to his immediate superior and presented himself in his new rank and the superior put him in charge a unit of men.  He never once doubted or questioned his commander’s word.  If the commanding general said it, it was good enough for him.  He believed and acted on that word.

   As Christians, we are similar to the private.  We were of lowly status and really didn’t account for much in life.  But along comes The Commander of the Army of the Lord and by His death and resurrection we are offered a chance to join this army.  We ask forgiveness and suddenly we are accepted and promoted.  No longer are we condemned sinners, now we are soldiers in the Lord’s service.  All we need to do is claim our new rank and begin to function in it.  Christ says we are new creations and we need to grasp that and begin to act like Christians, not like “only sinners saved by grace.” 

   Have you claimed your new rank?  Have you obeyed His Words that tell you you are now promoted?  Move out of your sinful life and move into your new life.  Stop dressing in your sin and dress yourself in clean robes of righteousness. 

   

Stephen Cram                                                          September 21, 2014         

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, following the tradition of men according to the rudiments of the world, and not in accordance with Christ. 

Visit my pastor’s blog at http://pastorjonrhinehart.blogspot.com/.

Join Pastor Jon Tuesday nights at 6:30 for Praise Chapel TV at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/praise-chapel-tv .

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.