Odd Behavior by The Countries Best
Have you ever slept under your bed? Have you ever ironed your shoes? Have you ever brushed and combed your bed? These questions might seems ridiculous to you, but these are some of the things that the countries best, our armed forces do.

You don't believe me, right? Well, let me tell you, when you have a strict military inspection at 5am in the morning, and your bed has to be made up flawlessly, you rather sleep under your bed. When the possibility exists that one crease in the wrong place could cause you to fail inspection, you even make up you bed without using the conventional way of two sheets and one or two blankets. You use one sheet, strategically folded at the top of your bed, to look like your bed is made up. The sheet is not spread out over the mattress and covered by the blanket. No, it folded in half through the length of the sheet, and then in half again. Part of the sheet is then folded over to look like a top and bottom sheet, and is tucked over the blanket at the top of the bed. Get the picture? Well, if not, just know that this bed is made up in a way that it looks like a gift that is wrapped with a blanket and a sheet. The corners are squared, and the hairs of the blanket are bushed and combed in a "middle-path" to each side of the bed. Very few soldiers sleep on their beds in basic training. To them they aren't beds. They are shrines that are decorated to earn credit toward their training.

I bet you've never heard of shoes and boots being ironed. Well, in order to match that flawless bed at inspection time, a soldier "bones" his boots and "step outs," which are his dress shoes. The "boning" process is done by ironing shoe polish into the leather of boots and shoes. This is done at the toe of the boot or shoe and around the heel section. After the shoes have been ironed in this way, spit and polish is rubbed into the leather in a circular motion and then with a dry cloth until the boot or shoe shines enough for the Drill Sergeant to see the reflection of his face. Wow! Is this unbelievable or not?

Yes, when a person decides to join the military, he or she makes a life-changing decision. When this decision is made, the soldier is basically stepping into an entirely new world. The soldier makes a decision to dress in a military uniform, to follow the rules and instructions issued by the military and go wherever the military orders him or her to go. In short, the soldier gives up a normal life. Critics of a military lifestyle would say that a soldier is giving up his or her freedom. Proponents of a military lifestyle would say no, they are choosing a new and better life of discipline, of heroism and of service to their country.

Freaks or Fanatics?
Let's jump to another story before we get to the bottom-line of what this discussion is all about. In South Africa, where I grew up, there is an annual event called, "The Comrades Marathon." This is an ultra marathon which is the equivalent distance of two regular marathons. A marathon is 26 miles, (42 kilometers), so an ultra marathon is between 52 and 56 miles. If you have ever attempted a marathon, or even a half marathon, you will understand how daunting an ultra marathon will be. This is the ultimate challenge for any athlete. There is a saying among the Comrades Runners, "You start training for the Comrades the day after the marathon."

I decided to start training for this race and so I'll give you a glimpse of what the training entailed. Well, the training commitment changes your life. The minimum distance a long distance athlete needs to run a day is 8 miles, (12km). For an average runner this distance takes about an hour. This distance needs to be run at least 5 times a week, and then doubled on Sunday. This would total between 56 to 60 miles for the week, the approximate distance of the event that the athlete is training for.

In the winter it is extremely difficult to keep to this schedule. Getting up at 5am when it is cold and dark and going out to run on the road demands a level of commitment that is above normal human understanding. How I did it, it still can't fully comprehend. There is something about being able to run that grueling distance that challenges the human spirit to engage in this level of commitment. It is just unbelievable.

People of all ages run this race. A South African by the name of Wally Haywood ran the race at the age of 82 . The strenuous and physically taxing event inspires a camaraderie that gave the race it's name. The last 20 miles puts every athlete to the test. The level of training really shows at this stage of the race. People pick up injuries, dehydrate, cramp up or just lose heart. That is when fellow runners help and encourage them to keep going. It is such a moving experience to witness, that the whole country watches, either on the TV or at the event.

I have a friend who started running this marathon. Every year he would come down to the Province where I lived and I would take him to the starting line. Then, at the end of the race, I would also go to pick him up and bring him home. The "picking up" part was an event in itself. You see, my friend hardly trained. He would put a couple of runs in before the event and then go out and try complete it in the 11 allotted hours. After running the race this way once or twice, we made a standing agreement that I would find him in the medical tent--on a drip. He had nausea, dehydration, and he looked like death warmed up. He could hardly walk to the car and stayed that way for a couple of days.

I personally got an Achilles tendon injury about 3 months into my training. I had to bail out. I'm not sure if I was relieved or disappointed as the training was so severe. My whole life changed. I had to follow a very strict diet high in complex carbohydrates. I had to cut out any late night social activities in order to get up early to go running. I had to fit in a weight training session 3 or 4 times a week to strengthen up my legs and upper body. In short, I ate, drank and slept the Comrades Marathon.

A Holy Man's Riddle
Why am I telling these humorous stories? Well, in searching for answers for what it takes to have the power of God in my life, I stumbled across a passage that the apostle Paul wrote to his young up and coming coworker. This aged holy man of God gives a short but powerful riddle to this young pastor who was soon to step into his shoes.

This young man was soon to experience the titanic struggles that Paul himself was enduring. He was stepping into the area where he would engage in a face to face confrontation with Satan himself. He was preparing to present truth to all with whom he came into contact with. He was preparing to be an ambassador for the Creator King of the Universe.

What could the aged Veteran of Truth give this young, up-and-coming coworker to prepare him for the battles ahead. How could he guarantee that an unseen wall would surround him to give him the protection he needed to survive the deadly onslaughts? Since his dramatic conversion from persecuting Christians, Paul had discovered the simple secret of having God's Power dominate his life. He learned first hand how easily Satan overpowers those who live by their own strength. He now pens this simple caution his beloved Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:4-6
No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Paul doesn't make any specific conclusion, but merely allows Timothy to ponder on this little riddle. The ingredients of the riddle involves examples from three different vocations in everyday life, illustrating one common principle. What does a closer look at each of these examples show us as believers? What is the common attribute that each of these people implement in order to accomplish their goals? Well, lets look at the farmer to gain a more complete understanding.

Harvesting Christmas Day
One of my father's sisters married a farmer. He and his two sons, who both became farmers, each owned a massive farm. They raise cattle, sheep and goats. They also grow corn and Lucerne to feed their animals in winter and to sell to other farmers. Quite a few years ago, when I was about 12 or 13 years old, our family went to visit my uncle and aunt on their farm. I loved to visit there. All the guys used to go with my uncle on his rounds. We watched him dip and sheer the sheep, check the traps for predators, and feed the animals. When I got up in the mornings, I noticed my uncle was already outside at work. I asked him what he was doing, and he told me he had to milk the cows and let the sheep out into their pastures, etc. I asked him to wake me up the next morning, and so, at about 4:30am, he woke me up. Wow! It was early!

My uncle was always happy when it rained. At the time when we were visiting at the farm, it had been raining on and off every day. My uncle said that it was time for the Lucerne to be cut and baled, but this couldn't happen when it was rainy because the Lucerne would spoil. Anyway, a day or two before Christmas it cleared up, and on Christmas day, my uncle said that it was the perfect time to cut the Lucerne. So out we went. He showed me how to drive the tractor and we cut a massive field of Lucerne on that day.

Looking back at my visit to my uncles farm, I realize that farming is not for the faint-hearted. A farmer works according to the demands of his farm. Without a commitment that supersedes personal preferences and common 'creature comforts,' no one will be able to be successful in this vocation. It takes a decision to work from sunrise to sunset, drop everything when there is a need and apply oneself to a consistent routine that will eventually pay dividends.

Success Summarized by One Word
What can be learnt from these three examples? Paul only volunteers a sentence with each of these, but he leaves a real life example and all that surrounds it to show us a very important lesson. There is one word that can be extracted from each of the three examples that epitomizes what would make each vocation a success.

Each of the people in these three examples, the soldier, the athlete and the farmer had to make a life changing commitment in order to pursue their career. The soldier had to give up his life as a civilian and be loyal and obedient to his commanding officer. He had to grind through the grueling basic training required to learn the essentials of warfare. He had to leave his home and go live in the army barracks and dress, act and speak like a soldier. Similarly, the athlete makes a decision to aspire to a life of higher physical performance. His whole life is rearranged to achieve these goals. He sacrifices many other preferences in his lifestyle to accomplish this one purpose. The farmer chooses the task of managing a piece of land thousands of hectares in size. His life is consumed by the demands relating to the weather, seasons, agricultural techniques and knowledge pertaining to raising healthy animals. There is no place in his life for too many other interests or pastimes.

If I had to ask you for one word that would summarize the success of each of these professions, which word would you give? I have a friend who has been very successful in business. He started a business from scratch and worked at it until he had developed it to be very prosperous. He had opened up numerous branches of his business and his business just kept growing year by year. At that time, I had started my own business and was very interested in learning more about what it took to be effective. One day I went to him and asked him for some basic pointers to apply to my business. Toward the end of the conversation I asked him this question, "If you had to summarize your success in business in one word, what would it be?" What do you think his reply was? "DISCIPLINE," was his reply. Wow! There it was. As I read through this holy riddle that Paul through out to young Timothy, I remembered my conversation with my successful friend in business. Yes discipline is the word that is common to all of the three examples that Paul mentioned in an attempt to help a young man that wanted to move to a deeper level of intimacy with God.

How Much Drive and Discipline is There For God?
Reading through this passage again and again reminds me of what amazing lengths men and woman will go to in order to achieve their goals. People will sacrifice time, money, relationships and their interests to achieve the goals that they have set for themselves. I worked part time at the YMCA in Hixson Tennessee for about a year. There supervised about 20 people and was responsible for drawing up the work schedule. Some of the people that applied for a jobs there already had a job, plus they were studying in school. I couldn't believe how much people commit themselves to in order to get ahead in life. I have opened a new business before and remember how I worked 16 hour days to get the business going. Yes, people have incredible discipline and drive to accomplish and to achieve.

The question I asked myself is this, "How much drive and discipline do I have when it comes to knowing God?" When it comes to spirituality, we don't seem to have the drive and the discipline to really make a difference. How determined are we to make a life-changing commitment when it comes to God's things? Are we prepared to leave many of our cherished interests and goals aside so that we can know God better? How far are we prepared to go in making a life with God? Do we just fit God into a little back corner of our lives, or is He the first and most important priority? The answers to these questions will determine what level of intimacy we are experiencing with God.

Crippled Christians?
Are you and I looking for answers to the complicated and confusing circumstances in our lives, and not finding them? Is our belief in God giving us the power to make good decisions, perform our duties and responsibilities efficiently and cope with any crisis and stress soberly and serenely? Are we growing in our understanding of God and experiencing victory over our weaknesses and bad habits? Have we come near to the point in our lives where we can say that we are experiencing the power of God with respect to prayers for healing, spiritual discernment and divine wisdom?

Sadly, most of us experience spirituality that is weak and watered down. Our prayers seem to be paralyzed and pathetic and our faith in times of trial is feeble and wavering. We go through most of our lives without experiencing the power of God. We are easy targets for Satan and his attacking forces. We find ourselves falling into depression, despondency and discouragement. God seems so far and so disinterested in us. Our lives are like shallow-rooted saplings, blown over by the smallest gust of wind. Is this the case in your life? Keep reading and you will see that this need not be. There is a life of Godly power and productivity waiting for each searching individual.

The Same Word Brings Success to Christians
This word, "discipline," that is common to all three of the examples that Paul gave to Timothy, is also the same word that will bring success to each searching individual. Jesus calls us to be disciples. Why? Well, "disciples" comes from the word "discipline." In other words, a disciple is someone who has committed themselves to Christian discipline. In ancient times, when a young man or woman wanted to learn the teachings of a master in any specific field, they would pack up their belongings, leave home, move into the master's house, and live with him until they have learned his teaching. The followers of the master were called disciples.

The closest example we have in our world today is probably an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is provided by a practically orientated business, like plumbers, builders or electricians, to young people who want to learn the trade. The young person joins the business and slowly learns the necessary skills by a "hands on" approach.

If Christians had the same urgency and commitment to their relationship with God as ordinary humans do in the pursuit of their goals, Christians would experience God's presence and His power in a very real and unbelievable manner. If Christians made the same sacrifices as a soldier to leave his civilian life behind, to follow everything his commanding officer said; if Christians abandoned a lazy life, like an athlete does, to train every day, to follow a strict diet and to keep to a regular routine; if Christians committed to the grueling daily labor that a farmer does, where he is out early every morning performing his many tasks; if Christians were to make God their priority as those in these vocations, they would have the power of God in their lives.

Holding to the Word Brings God's Power
Jesus, our Master Teacher, tells us in John chapter 8 verse 31 and 32, "If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Yes, Jesus is the Word of God--the Word made flesh, (John 1:1, 2, 14), and His life and teachings epitomize the entire Word of God. The Word of God, as revealed to the earnest seeker of truth by the "Spirit of Truth," becomes a living force that brings change and renewal. The Word of God, captured by his loyal penmen in the bible, is the same Word that God spoke when He created the universe. It has the same power.

Isaiah 55:10, 11
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out of my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Christ's Object Lessons, E.G. White, p. 60, 61, 100).
"The word of God, received into the mind, will be manifest in good works. Its results will be seen in a Christ-like character and life. The scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. Christ prayed, "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth. "The spell of a stronger, perfect mind will be over us; for we have a living connection with the source of all-enduring strength. In our divine life we will be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. We will no longer live the common life of selfishness, but Christ will live in us. His character will be reproduced in our nature. Thus we will bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit."

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

If you and I were to take the discipline, the commitment, the drive, the sacrifice, the tenacity, the determination, the perseverance, the persistence and the consistency of soldiers, athletes and farmers, and apply it to studying and knowing the Word of God, we would become that Word and experience it's true power.

When Jesus said, in John 14: 12, that we will "do even greater things than these," he really meant it. He meant that if we follow the example He set for us--an example of building His entire life around a relationship with His Father and eating and drinking His Word--we would do the works that He did. Jesus goes on to say in John 15:7, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." There it is. This is a follow up on what Jesus said made someone a disciple--"Holding onto His teaching." Here he reaffirms this in other words--"If you remain in me and my words remain in you."

The Desire of Ages, p. 676
The union with Christ, one formed, must be maintained. Christ said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me." This is no casual touch, no off-and-on connection. The branch becomes a part of the living vine. The communication of life, strength, and fruitfulness from the root to the branches is unobstructed and constant. Separated from the vine, the branch cannot live. No more, said Jesus, can you life apart from me. The life you have received from Me can be preserved only be continual communion. Without Me you cannot overcome one sin, or resist on temptation. "Abide in Me, and I in you." Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character.

Remaining in Christ, or "abiding in Christ," as the King James Version translates it, can only happen when a person makes a life-changing commitment to forsake all other priorities in order to make this priority a success. The same sacrifice the we humans make to climb Everest, become an Olympic athlete, write a book, be a professor, earn a million dollars or be any of the three vocations Paul mentioned in his holy riddle to Timothy, we need to make to "abide" or "remain" in Christ day by day, and have His words "abide" or "remain" in us.