Veterans

The Roman legions fought many long and difficult campaigns. If you were a Veteran Roman Legionnaire, you were conscripted for a 20 year term in the Roman Army. The benefit to this was,  at the time of discharge ,  you were rewarded with lands and monetary compensation, as well as rewards and or honors that were acquired during your time of service to the Empire.

At the conclusion of a long or hard military campaigns  the legion commanders would assemblethe ranks of 
soldiers and would erect a stage  and thee officers would stand on it  and call the soldiers forward ,  this assembly was called the Bamea Tribunal.

 The commanders would call forward before all the assembled  legion, varies Legionnaires

This assembly, this military court of honor , was not convened as a punitive moment of condemnation and punishment  but rather, of accommodation and reward for their service in the Roman army.

The Bemea Tribunel was a highly anticipated event in the life of a Roman Legionnaires. It was a high honor to stand before the Commanders of the Legion and receive from them rewards of service.

 Christian Soldiers 

The Roman army was an ever present realty in the life of the early Christians. Beging a Roman Legionnaire was a way of life not just an "occupation of military enlistment" . Christians were familiar with the legionnaires so much so,  that the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture to draw on and uses images and metaphors of the Roman army and military life  to speak to Christians regarding the life which Christians are called to live out. We can see these references in the words of the Apostle Paul.

"Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Why take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Ephesians:6:10-17

 Paul again sights the panoply Armor of the Roman Soldier in.  
 
" let us put on the armor of light." Romans:13:12c

 This set of Armor, the panoply,  was for many an everyday sight in the Roman Provenances.It was the stranded "dress" of every Legionnaires and spoke of their continued vigilance and readiness to serve the Empire and the surest means of personal protection in conflict. It was part of who they were.

This speaks to Christians to be always be adorned with the "Armor of God",  everyday  in the life of the Christians , we are to put it on, that is,  take it up and be dressed in it walk in it, live in it..  This armor  should proclaim that  the believer is always  on the ready to serve our Lord Jesus Christ at all times, it is our protection in the conflicts of this life and a part of who we are.

Civilian Pursuits

The Legionnaire was careful not to be entangled in the pursuits of civilians, these things would diminish their ability to be effective in the ranks. Rather , the legionnaire  was to be focused on his place in the ranks and to always sharpen his skills as a soldier. They were to avoid anything which was outside of the prescribed life of the Roman army. They would strive to please their commanding officer for they knew from him would come reward and promotions. Loyalty was highly prized in the legion and at time this was cause for reward even above skills.

Paul address this same thing  to all Christians, though it is written in one of the "pastoral" epistles to the young pastor Timothy.

"Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." 2Timothy:2:3-4

For Christians it should be our aim to please our Lord Jesus Christ in and at all times,  to set our minds on things above not the affairs of this life,  to live  and to please Him  ,  to show  loyalty to our Lord and be ever ready to serve Him at all times, even in times of conflict.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."Colossians:3:2

The Epistle to Philippians was written to a congregation of Christians in Philippi which was established as  a retirement community for Roman Legionnaires along the Egnatian Way in the Greek Province of Thrace. The church their would have undoubtedly been comprised of many of these retirees and their families.  
They would have understood the military terms used throughout the Epistle and have  been able to apply the metaphors and lessons to their Christian life that the Apostle Paul was presenting them. Military lessons would have spoken to them and equip  them to live powerful lives for their Lord Jesus Christ. 

 The Bemea

After a long hard march or extended campaign and many engagements and battles there was the Bemea Tribunal. All who served would ultimately be called forward by a tribunal of  three senior officers;  and there the legionnaire's personal performance would be evaluated and they would receive their rewards. Often it led to promotion and gain.  This was a court of high honor and not  a place of judicial proceedings for punishment,  but of accommodations.This was not a place of fear but was highly sought by each soldier.

  

Each Christian will in the same way stand before the Bemea of our Great Triune God in the person of our Lord Jesus, who is the great Judge and the one who evaluates   us all. There we will be called forth by name and our lives as Christian Soldiers will be evaluated, our lives will be "tried" by the fire of the Holy Spirit to see what has been done in His service,  to determine  whether it has come out of the flesh or the Spirit and there we will be rewarded accordingly. 

Yet even, if  in our lives there are found things of the flesh they will be consumed and we will, by His Grace, still enter the eternal life that is our all through Who our Lord is , and what He has accomplished for us. 

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad." 2Corinthians:5:10

The translation we find in the English of  2Corinthians:5:10, is rather unfortunate, the Greek carries the understanding that what is being tried or evaluated in quality, not morality, we see this demonstrated in 1Corinthians:3:10-15.  Paul list building materials as compering the quality. 

"According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." 1Corinthians:3:10-15

This tells us that even our failures will not preclude us from entering eternal life.  So great is His grace toward us.  Tthose things tried, that which was of the flesh that is "wood, hay, stubble",  will consumed and burned away , yet we are still saved, what will remain will be that which is of the Spirit,"gold, silver, precious stones".  
We not need to fear this moment; there is still the reward of just being a Christian  marching in the army of God as it makes its way through history on the campaign toward eternity.All by His Grace

Our Lord will evaluate each of us for  what did we did with the salvation that was given to us by grace.  Those who are  veterans of difficult days of the warfare of this life can have anticipation of this moment that awaits us all .

 "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians:2:8-9

Our Judge-Advocate

For the Roman solider retirement was generous ,  many things both in lands and wealth were given to them at their discharge from the legion, these benefits  were given based upon their service and rank and simply by being their  part of the  legion itself.

 If we , as Christians ,  have gone through hardship and have served long and in difficult times, your time of reward is coming;  you,  like the Roman Soldiers long ago  will hear your name called  and Christ will evaluate your life , what was done by the Holy Spirit.
 

And He will reward us for how we participated with Him in this life.   Our actions in this life do have eternal impact.  If you are tired veteran and have been, or are in  hard times,  be encouraged , for the One Who Judges you is also the best advocate you can have.

 "My little children, these things write I to you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1John:2:1

This tells us that the One Who  sits as our Judge  also stands as our defender . How can we fear with Jesus with us and for us?   For Veterans this is a comfort.  The scriptures uses varies images to convey the sense that what is awaiting us,  is beyond the languages of  humanity – to express- but it will be worth it!

Retirement Benefits 

We like the Apostles,  in becoming Christians, and the Roman solders  who left their own families ,homes and lands to march in the Legions of Roman , may ask, "what awaits us at our discharge of service?". Peter asking for the twelve , but Peter is asking for each of us as well, inquires of Jesus regarding the reward which awaits His followers at their discharge of this life.

"Then answered Peter and said to him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred times, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." Matthew:19:27-30

What awaits us is beyond our minds to fully grasp.  Jesus uses the language of accommodation so that we might understand that our reward is great beyond hope . This tells us that all that we have been through in the hardships , battles, long marches and even the wounds and scars inflicted upon us in this life ,  that in the end,  it will  have been worth it. Every moment all the pain suffering and difficulties will be more than compensated for in Great Glory.

Paul in writing again to Timothy gives him, and we all:  we who are veterans of our Lord's service ,  a last military word of encouragement to see us  through to the end of our time of service , when we as veterans in the service of the Kingdom of God will stand and receive all that our Lord has for us.  Paul tells Timothy and us knowing what lies ahead at your moment at the Bemea for all the veterans.

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.Fight the good fight of the faith" .1Timothy:6:11-12a ....

Benediction: May we each and all  as soldiers of the Lord, knowing the honors which awaited us fight the good fight, today, tomorrow and for evermore.Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com