Stand and Deliver

Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. - Ephesians 6:11-13 HCSB

On the 24th of March 1969, a young Marine named Ronald Coker was serving as a point man, patrolling in the Vietnamese province of Quang Tri when his company encountered the enemy. During the battle, a fellow Marine was wounded and lay exposed to enemy fire. Private Coker, disregarding his own safety, moved across the fire-swept terrain toward his buddy.

He was hit by enemy small-arms fire before he could even get to his friend, so he threw a grenade which gave him just enough time to get to the wounded man. As he began to drag his friend back toward safety, a grenade fell next them. Private Coker quickly tried to dispose of the grenade and managed to get it away from his friend but was severely wounded in the process. He continued to move toward friendly lines but two more grenades exploded near him, inflicting still further injuries.

Single-mindedly focused on saving his buddy’s life, with a supreme effort he still managed to continue to crawl, pulling his comrade along. The other Marines, inspired by his example, aggressively attacked the enemy position, sufficiently suppressing the small arms fire so that they could help Private Coker get to a relatively safe position. Shortly after his heroic actions, Private Coker died, having gallantly given his life for his country and his friend.[1]

Our Master also came looking for us. He too was severely wounded in the process and succumbed to His wounds after accomplishing our salvation. He is our example, our inspiration as well as our hope.

He calls us to prepare for the evil day and to resist the powers of darkness. We must put on our armor and having prepared everything, to take our stand. In Ezekiel’s day God decried, “I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one. So I have poured out My indignation on them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their actions down on their own heads."[2]

Will the same be true today? Are there no heroes who will stand and deliver? Are there none who will respond “Here I am! Send me!”?[3] Or will our nation also fall?


[1] Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1969. Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Born: 9 August 1947, Alliance, Nebr.
[2] Ezekiel 22:30-31
[3] Isaiah 6:8