Deployment and Spiritual Preparation

Written by Joy Emery

While the military provides great helps for military families in getting ready for deployment, an often over-looked part is the spiritual aspect of a person’s life. For you personally, it is time for you to answer the question: "What do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven?"

Some believe that you will go to heaven because you are a good person, or because you are a church member, or because they just can’t believe that God would actually send a person to hell. But the real reason that someone goes to heaven is because the person has made a personal decision to accept God’s free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:7 says that we have redemption through Jesus blood and forgiveness of all our sins. And John 3:16 tell us that God made this gift of everlasting life available to all through His Son, Jesus. The reason that we don’t just automatically enter into heaven is because it is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. Romans 3:23 clears up any question as to who might be guilty of sin. It tells us that we are all sinful and in need of salvation.

The only way to enter heaven is to turn from sin and self and to turn to Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 tells us that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. And when we acknowledge that truth with our mouths, we will be saved. Jesus came to provide us with an abundant life and John 14:3 tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven.

If you have not accepted God’s gift of salvation, that is the first spiritual preparation for battle. You can do that right now by asking God to forgive you of your sins and by acknowledging Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

If you have already become a Christian, there are still some things you might consider doing to strengthen your spiritual legacy before you are deployed.

First, share your testimony with your spouse and children. Should anything happen to you on your military assignment, it would be a great comfort for your family to know about your commitment to Jesus Christ. The great thing about knowing that family members are Christians is the assurance that we will be reunited with them one day in heaven.

Second, share the plan of salvation with your older children and youth. As your children show signs of understanding God’s plan of salvation for all of us, take the opportunity to share with them. Never force a child into making a decision, but offer to answer questions or to help her discover the answers to spiritual questions she might have.

Third, share spiritual truths or key verses that have been especially meaningful to you. Pick a verse that you will pray for your spouse and pick one for each of your children. Write each verse on a card. Tell each person why you picked the specific verse for him, and give each person his verse.

Then have each person pick a special verse to pray for you and to tell why she picked the verse for you. Ask each of them to write their verses for you on cards and to let you carry those verses with you on your deployment.

As a Christian, you can walk anywhere with confidence when you know that Christ is walking with you. May you help your family walk with confidence as you lead them by example.

Joy Emery is a wife, mother of three, conference leader, and freelance career and workplace writer. She and her family live in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

LifeWay Recommends A one-of-a-kind collection of inspiring stories written specifically by men and women in all branches of our armed forces, Taking the High Ground: Military Moments with God is designed to encourage believers in their faith. From the battlegrounds of the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm, Christians in uniform tell how God touched their lives in special ways.

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