By his example, he taught me more than anyone else the value of cheerfulness in the face of adversity.”
                    –E.B. Sledge  (With the Old Breed)

       “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”
                    –2 Corinthians 10:3 (NIV)
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          “Complete the salvation that God has given you with a proper sense of awe and responsibility.  For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve his purpose.”
                    –Philippians 2:12-13(Phillips)

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling”–we have looked at several aspects of what that means.  It means to fulfill your duty as a Christian, to be diligent in our walk not wavering, and to pick up our cross daily.  I want to look at a different aspect this morning.  We work out our salvation by living our training, standing firm in every situation, and when others fall, continue to stand.
     Barclay reminds us that salvation is of God.  He is the One who saves us.  The continuance of that process is to be awakened by Him, and without His goodness in our lives sin cannot be conquered; it is God who is at work within us.  The end process of salvation is with God as well.  We are His and He is ours.  “The work of salvation is begun, continued and ended in God.”  However, as Barcaly uses the illustration, man may be ill and the doctor prescribes the medicine that will help him, but the man must take them.  He can be stubborn and refuse.  “No man can ever receive salvation unless he answers God’s appeal and takes what He offers.”  Then throughout life there are instructions to be followed, duties to be obeyed, and obligations to be met, thus working out one’s salvation.
     This term, “work out,” means to “work in a mine” getting all out of the mine that is possible.  It can also mean working in a field to get the greatest harvest possible.  As problems come into our lives we have to “work them out.”  Warren Wiersbe writes, “Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential.”
     “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV)  We work out our own salvation by putting on the armor of God.  Notice, we put it on.  It is something we do.  If we can put it on, we can take it off, or refuse to wear it in the first place.  Wearing the armor of God is no easy thing and since it has a military connotation we can expect a battle–to fight.  Not only must we put it on, we must put it to use.  In my short time in the military and from my studies, I have found out the difference between a warrior and a soldier is that a warrior lives his training.
     To be a warrior in any army, but especially in the service of the Lord requires strict discipline and the adherence to a warrior code.  Shannon D. French says in her wonderful book, “The Code of a Warrior,” that the code “set boundaries on his behavior.  It distinguishes honorable acts from shameful acts…  They respect the values of the society in which they were raised and which they are prepared to die to protect.”  That is one reason why the Christians of the early church could march into the colosseum singing for they were marching in the army of the Lord.  The Christian in his armor understands the “thou shalt nots” of the Ten Commandments.  He practices being a good steward with his finances, his time, and most importantly of all, his life.  
     What happens when the day of evil comes if you don’t have on your armor?  If you have laid aside your sword?  If you are barefooted?  No, part of working out one’s salvation is to be alert and prepared at all times so “after the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13, NIV)  Don’t be lax, don’t become a sluggard, but stand your ground, work out your salvation, fight the good fight and recall with the smile of a warrior the words of Paul to Timothy, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3, NIV)
               “And battles sometimes futile seem
               Not worth the heavy cost,
               But each must stand in his own time
               Or see his freedom lost.”
                       –Andrew H. Hines
Stand your ground.  You may not understand the “why” of the battle but you follow orders because you are working out your salvation, and most importantly of all–you know your Commander.  We stand against the fiery darts, we stand when the lion roars in our face, we stand when others around us have fallen.  Lost?  No way, I’m in the King’s Army and my loyalty is to Him and He will provide a way to victory.

Once a man sets his sights on reaching the truth, nothing this side of death can stop him.”
                    –John Deacon  (Kip)

       “So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.”
                    –Psalm 18:24  (ESV)
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Here, in the first part of Proverbs 7, we see more instruction.  These are important to the basic foundations of living.  Keep and store God’s commands; lay up–put them in the bank so they can be used.  Remember, means to never forget.  It is important as we go through life that we understand that “the true life of man depends upon his relationship to the Word of God.” (Flores)

          1 — My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you.
          2 — Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye.
          3 — Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
          4 — Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your nearest kin,
          5 — That they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words.  (NKJV)

Let me tell you right from the start in this lesson, existence is not the same as living!  All exist but only those who are in God’s Word and are obedient truly live.  Warren Wiersbe says that, “keeping God’s commands is a matter of life or death.”  We all exist, but we do not all live the life of fullness in God, which goes even further than this life but on into eternity.
     Notice the term, “apple of your eye.”  This is something that is adored, cherished.   “We protect our eyes because they are valuable to us, and so should we honor and protect God’s Word by obeying it.” (Wiersbe)  By following God’s instruction we are acting the same as if we were protecting our eyes.  The NIV adds the word, “guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.”  We wear goggles and glasses to protect the eyes.  Our sight is valuable, but more so, our spiritual sight.  “The instruction of the Word is the same to soul as the eye is to the body.” (Muffet)  
     Jesus tells us in John, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (14:15, NKJV)  No, this is not legalism, it is an act of love.  If you love someone you want to spend time with them, you want to know all about them.  Therefore, the more we know about the Lord, the more we study His Word, the more we should strive to obey and practice them.
     Dan Dick tells us that the “Commandments of God should be as much a part of us as the fingers which are a part of our hands.”  How much of the Word do you know?  How much of the Word do you practice?  We are to “write them,” actually we are to “etch them” or “carve them” into our hearts.  We are to keep God’s teaching with us all the time!  We are to practice and obey His teaching all the time.
     When we trust completely in God’s promises, we find new meaning in the word wisdom.  By this time in our study we should come to a better understanding of what wisdom is and is not.  This will continue on through Proverbs.  But this is wisdom, this is understanding–“the truth of God is constant; never changing.” (Dick)  So live a full and complete life by knowing who God is and becoming more and more acquainted with Him.

The difference between a man and a boy is the willingness to do a man’s work and take a man’s responsibility.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Killoe)

       “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”

You have to plan ahead a bit and stay the course, even if there are setbacks.”
                    –Ken Pratt  (Wolves of Windsor Ridge)

        “He [Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
                    –Hebrews 11:26 (NIV)
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Wow!  By the time we get back to the Echoes it will be another month past and we’ll be entering September.  Time does surely fly.  I remember in Basic Training it seemed as if the hours dragged and at the end of the day I’d wonder where it all went.  If you’re walking on the straight and narrow, shouting glory, you’ve probably hit some ruts, some potholes, and maybe much more.  Stay on that road no matter how rough it may get, or how many times you have to repair holes in the way, for it leads to a place that is much better than this old earth.  
     I happened to hear over the weekend, not an old song, but not contemporary one either.  It has great harmony for quartets, but the message rings out even louder.  It was written by Jean Canter.  Let’s take a look at it.  If you want to listen, go to YouTube and find the Oak Ridge Boys, the title is, “I Know What Lies Ahead.”

          This road I’m on is strait and narrow
          But it leads to a better home.
          It was laid by Christ one day at Calvary
          While He suffered all alone.
          This road may lead over many high mountains,
          And valleys dark and low,
          But I’ll walk each day with sweet assurance
          And I’ll safely reach my home.

     For a fact, stay on the road, despite the difficulties, no matter the terrain, for it will be worth it all when we finally reach our heavenly home.  One more mountain in your path, that’s one more challenge to factor, one more obstacle to help you grow in Christ.  One more way to help you “work out your salvation.”  The valley may be dark, it may even be the valley of the shadow of death, but I like those words–we walk each day with “sweet assurance.”

          While on this road I get so weary,
          And often my feet would stray;
          But a gentle hand still leads me onward
          And helps me find the way.
          As I climb each hill and cross each valley
          By His hand I’m daily led,
          But I won’t look back gonna keep on walking
         For I know what lies ahead.

     Don’t give up.  Yes, the way sometimes does get weary.  Sometimes we want to rest and some want to just plain quit.  How many do you know that have strayed off the path?  How many do you know that have given up?  Don’t be like them.  With the Holy Spirit as your guide He will show you the way and give you peace in the midst of your troubles and weariness.  Don’t look back, but put your gaze on the horizon, on that city like Abraham of old did; that city with foundations built by God.  Don’t settle for this old earth to be your home.

          Ahead there’s joy and gladness
          And rest for the weary soul.
          Ahead there’s peace and contentment
          Everybody will be happy and whole.
          I’ll be at home with Jesus
          Where tears will never be shed;
          Though often this road gets rough and rocky
          Still I know what lies ahead.

     Ahead–that heavenly home awaits.  Don’t let the cares and the temptations of this world turn you aside.  Keep plodding on for in front of you is peace and contentment.  It will be worth it all when we reach those pearly gates.  We will be in awe as we enter walking on those streets of gold.  We will gaze around and see mansions, and yes, there’s one with your name posted on it.  Go ahead, enter, you’re already clean and I’ll join you at the Marriage Supper.