As a young officer I was always seeking to improve both in my knowledge of the application of my profession and in the physical fitness required to lead men in said profession. To the first I sought out mentors that would guide and mentor me in the art of warfare. One saying an early mentor used has always stuck with me “be a student of your profession”, what he meant by that was straightforward, learn and keep learning. Never feel like you know everything, because you don’t. Most importantly remember that just like in school, everything has been done before (history), what were the lessons and how can they be applied to modern warfare (life, business, etc). So in essence I became a military history student. As such, I read all I could about battles and tactics and the thoughts behind strategies and their employment. I learned a great deal about all the major and minor actors throughout the ages who also chose the profession of arms. One of the most striking similarities behind most successful battlefield commanders was straightforward “LEADERSHIP”, I know shocking right! I mean leadership from the front, setting the example to those around you. Rallying your men forward, when all seems lost. These men didn’t take “market surveys” to see what course of action to follow, they for the most part never took the easy path or lowered their standards. True Leadership inspires when all seems lost, and by personal example motivated others. Alexander, Judas Maccabeus, Napolean, Jackson, Macarthur to name a few. I am tempted to go on a rant about Leadership in today’s military, but I will save it for another day.
This gets us to today’s quote about Napoleon, and while some have questioned the validity of the quotes I find it amusing they always find it troubling when someone of renown claims faith in Christ (Gen Macarthur and Christianity in Japan, most recent). Napoleon was no doubt a great leader and Waterloo was nearly his crown achievement instead of his ultimate defeat. As he spent his last years exiled on St Helen he pondered his fate. His time was drawing to a close, it is these thoughts I draw you to today.
“Such is the fate of great men! So it was with Caesar and Alexander. And I, too, am forgotten. And the
name of a conqueror and an emperor is a college theme! Our exploits are tasks given to pupils by their tutor,
who sit in judgment upon us, awarding us censure or praise. And mark what is soon to become of me;
assassinated by the English oligarchy, I die before my time; and my dead body, too must return to the earth, to
become food for worms. Behold the destiny, near at hand, of him who has been called the great Napoleon.
What an abyss between my deep misery and the eternal reign of Christ, which is proclaimed, loved, adored,
and which is extending over all the earth. Is this to die? Is it not rather to live? The death of Christ! It is the death
of God.” When his former Gen who questioned weather he really believed Jesus was God, stood silent. Napoleon finished by stating
“If you do not perceive that Jesus Christ is God, very well, then I did wrong to make you a general.”
Friends, if we are in Christ we are to be ministers of the Gospel, a second profession if not our first! Most of course have an earthly profession, whatever that may entail. We have a much more important Heavenly profession. It’s not just a once a week thing, its an all the time thing. You may laugh at that but many people don’t take their faith seriously. Maybe that is why so many people are confused about eschatology, prophecy, or the Bible in general. They lack an understanding because they have not become “students of their profession”. So when huge issues like homosexuality, abortion, Israel, come up they are apathetic, because they have not done their homework. Even worse is they let somebody else decide what the “right” answer is, abdicating their responsibility to stand firm!