“BURN YOUR BOATS”: What Dedication and Sacrifice Looks Like on the Mission Field
“When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Throughout history, military commanders have successfully used Sun Tzu’s “burned ships strategy” to implement a dedication to victory that we might not be as familiar with today.
In 1519 for instance, Cortés burned his ships after he had arrived in the New World with six hundred men. Upon their arrival, Cortés was able to make history by destroying all of the ships. This sent a clear message to his men: there is no turning back. Regardless of the motives of Cortés, two years later, he succeeded in his conquest of the Aztec empire.
In light of Sun Tzu’s ageless advice, consider that Jesus taught us that we need to leave everything behind to serve Him.
Jesus’ singular focus on the Great Commission could be compared to the “burned ships strategy” of leadership, where the military commander burns the transport ships after using them to reinforce that there is no path of retreat. Could it be that Jesus used this technique, but with a more advantageous twist that we fail to grasp?
As we support the vision of Back to Jerusalem, there are people being sent out to unknown and potentially deadly areas and there is no turning back; God will supply.
God knows how to build His kingdom and we are amazed that He allows us to be a part of that. He assures us that He will never leave us or forsake us. Every day, BTJ missionaries are arriving in closed nations with no way of retreat. They do not have tickets to return home to China. They do not have second homes waiting for them or parachute retirement plans to place their hope in. They only have the desire to reach the unreached until they die.
What can we learn from them?
This year, in Texas, BTJ is holding a meeting for those who have suffered and survived. They are victoriously sold out for God and He has blessed us with their knowledge and encouragement. Come let us learn from one another, for just as iron sharpens iron, so does one believer sharpen another believer. Let’s learn from those who have chosen to follow God and are not looking back.
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One Comment
God’s Kingdom is coming. All will see. The Glory of God is Coming. Everyone must bury the past. And never bring it up again ever. Harboring grudges and unforgiveness destroys families and marriages and Nations. So many people can not forgive and forget. It eats away at them. Most of the time its over something small and a bunch of nonsense. Many families haven’t spoken to one another or seen one another over something that isn’t significant or worth fighting about or being angry over.. God gives you a family one time to cherish and make the best of it and to enjoy and love. That’s the way I’ve alawys been, I love unconditionally and LOVE YOU no matter what you did to me or said to me. This is so easy for me to do. Don’t forget you die with this grudge and unforgiveness and those you leave behind never get over it and the hurt and pain it caused them. Family is Family no Matter What. Just likee the Prodigal Son in the Bible. Always keep your doors open for family no matter what and your heart also. Never close your heart to your family. Many of you have stone tight fisted unforgiving hearts where God has to open your heart and convert you and then it must stay that way and not go back to your old.ways. God tells me the Conversion of Heart is the most beautiful thing he sees and enjoys the most. YOU can see a heart change and it’s the most beautiful thing mankind can witness themselves. Like in King and Country their Music Video Burn the Ships with the Large Schooner on Fire burning then watch Mathew West’s sing Unfirgiveness with the girl looking up to Heaven and then Prodigal by Sidewalk Phrophets the Lyrics. Enjoy listening ‘