Battle Scars

John 3:5 nasb1995 

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [c]again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

The Parable of the Professor

The military ball was an elegant and exciting evening. A middle-aged professor was the center of attention, surrounded by people as he shared his knowledge through his teaching abilities. The crowd was captivated by his knowledge, hanging on to every word. It was obvious that he loved the attention he was getting, having spent many years devoted to his books and classroom. The military regalia on his uniform indicated that he was an important person. His face was beaming as he continued to speak before the crowd.

As the evening progressed, the professor continued to share his knowledge, but there was a sudden shift in the room when an old man walked in. The professor noticed him first and his face revealed discomfort at the old man's presence. Despite this, the old man walked up to the professor, greeted him, and honored him for who he was. However, there was obvious tension in the room that could be felt by everyone.

As the professor and the old man continued their interactions, the crowd that had gathered around them became increasingly curious about the identity of the old man. Despite his unremarkable clothing and lack of interest in the crowd's attention, his mere presence commanded a response.

The audience grew restless as they listened to the professor and eventually interrupted the conversation to ask the old man who he was. As he turned to address the young people in the crowd, they were struck by the sight of his battle scars. The scars on his face and body spoke volumes, revealing that this man had seen and survived the horrors of war.

As the old man began to speak, the people noticed a marked difference from the professor's lectures. The old man spoke about his battle scars, and there was a depth to his words that went beyond what they had ever heard in a classroom. He shared stories that carried insight and wisdom, unlocking knowledge that couldn't be found in books. They understood that he was a man of experience, and his scars were proof that he had faced death numerous times but had emerged victorious.

Acts 4:13 nasb1995 

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

Insights from Battle Scars

Taking the time to study things is of great value, and the classroom holds an important place in our walk with God. However, it cannot and should not replace the wisdom and experience of those who have been battle-tested and carry within their body the battle scars. If you are ever presented with the opportunity to sit, learn, and listen from those who have faced the enemy and carried the scars of war, it's essential that you humble yourself and learn. The testimonies of those who have walked with Christ and faced great battles should be heard and learned from.

Every scar, wound, and testimony from the battlefield carries a depth of wisdom that cannot be compared to information from books. I recall our time on the mission field in Haiti. I asked God, "Will you let me read the books of Heidi Baker's experiences and not have to go through great difficulties?" I heard a laugh in my spirit. God knew I needed to go through some things; there were experiences I needed to fulfill His destiny for my life. I needed to have some battle scars to develop into someone who could lead others into the battlefield and bring them back alive.

The Offensive Nature of Battle Scars

Just like the professor, the battle scars will be offensive to the religious. Many like the professor above often try to discredit people who have battle scars by suggesting that if they had only paid more attention in class, they would not have these scars. However, they fail to realize that this type of thinking is not effective in winning wars. Even Jesus told Thomas, who was in disbelief, to reach out and touch the wounds on his body. These wounds were the evidence that Jesus had gone through the cross and had risen from the dead.

John 20:27 

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 

While many scars are from victorious battles, other scars you bear may be a result of immature or wrong decisions you made in the past, they are proof of God's grace that has worked in and through you. These scars are a testament to the fact that God has healed and restored the wounds you suffered in the past. 

Never be ashamed of your battle scars!