UNBUDGEABLE
One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world today, due to its activity and its close proximity
to 3 million people, is Mount Vesuvius. Situated just over 5 miles east of Naples, on the ‘shin’ of
Italy’s ‘boot’, it threatens to engulf the whole area as it has done in the past.
Most notably, its destruction of the Roman cities Herculaneum and Pompeii in AD79 lasted for 2
days. Even people living 20 miles away were forced to flee for their lives.
Over 1,000 of the 5,000 people who perished have so far been discovered in the ruins of the
excavated city of Pompeii. Some of them are found in very different positions, caught by the
avalanche of ash, lava and burning sulphurous gases. Hundreds of tons of pumice were spewed
miles into the air so that it fell up to 74 miles away with the finer ash blown for thousands of miles.
The falling debris filled Pompeii’s streets and eventually buried everything completely.
Blackened skeletal remains were discovered in deep vaults to where the terrified citizens had run
for cover, like those running to the air shelters in the Blitz. Some victims were found perched in
towers and high buildings, obviously hoping to escape the devastation below. Some were found
around the beaches where they had sought a refuge in the sea. The remains of one man,
presumed to be a looter who had returned too early, were found half-way through the window of a
house with his booty scattered around him.
But when the archaeologists discovered the Roman sentry, he was standing at the city gate where
he had been stationed. While the earth shook beneath him and firestorms raged around him, he
had stood still. While showers of molten debris rained down from above, he didn’t run. While the
floods of ashes and cinders overwhelmed him, he had stood immovably at his post, with his hand
still clasping his sword. Nothing could dislodge this soldier from his duty.
Such awesome courage and unflinching tenacity is a great model for those who claim to be
soldiers of Jesus. How often are they deflected from their duty and pressured to desert their post!
How easily they cave in to the stresses of everyday and their duty to Christ and his church
become the first casualty.
The Christian soldier, kitted out with the armour of Ephesians chapter 6, is not a part-time ‘battle
re-enactment hobby soldier’! The Christian soldier is a disciplined servant of Jesus who has
entered into a saving relationship with God through his only Son who died on the cross to recruit
sinners to his army. This soldier is on full-time active service with the principle responsibility to his
‘King and country’. He should not neglect his duty to his Captain or to his fellow-soldiers.
He may stand resolutely in the face of apostasy and heresy, but when the fine ash of criticism or
complaint gets into his kit and clothing, he is apt to quit his post for a more comfortable position.
Soldiers frequently desert their posts in their Bible study, in worship, in leadership, in church
service, in stewardship, in the church prayer meetings. In some places soldiers are even
encouraged to go AWOL!
Yet in the thick of the battle and the heat of the firestorm the faithful Christian soldier will not give
way. Though the earth shakes and the heavens shudder, He stands with all of the divine
Quartermaster’s resources behind him and he knows better than to venture alone against the foe.
He is strong in the Lord and his mighty power, equipped with the full armour of God. It is this
soldier who will be ‘more than a conqueror’ (Romans ch8 v37)