When I was a boy, I wanted to be a Marine.  My cousin inspired courage as he jumped at air shows.  Long before my brother Roy served in D.C. in the USMC President’s Band, we were awed by the Marine Band at the Long Beach parade.  I didn’t need John Wayne movies to look up to the “few good men.”

When I was about eight, our Bible class teacher asked us to name the greatest position a boy could reach.  My answer was easy: U.S. Marine Corp Commandant.  You can imagine our surprise when we learned that for God, qualifying to serve as an Overseer was tops.  On the battlefield for good, true Christians are “The Few.”

Not everyone is one of “The Few.”  Some profess to know God but deny Him by actions that are detestable, disobedient, and worthless for any good deed (Titus 1:16 ).  “The Few” must be wise in what is good and innocent about what is evil (Rom. 16:19 ).  We must imitate what is good rather than what is evil since those who do this are from God (III Jn. 1:11 ).  There are standards for God’s Corps.

The immediate payoff for “The Few” is great.  We are in shape for action.  We have God’s wisdom, which is itself full of good fruit as well as mercy after being first pure and then also peaceable, gentle, reasonable, unwavering and without hypocrisy (James 3:17 ).  That’s a profile that inspires imitation!

The eternal results are even greater.  Final judgment will see those who have done good rise to life rather than eternal destruction (Jn. 5:28 -29).  God will give an eternal life of glory and honor and peace to those who seek glory, honor and immortality by persistence in doing good (Rom. 2:7 & 10).  All will stand before Christ’s judgment seat to receive what we have done in the body, whether good or evil (II Cor. 5:10 ).  How can we be among “The Few” who excel in being and doing good?

First, we must be Christian.  “The Few” are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared beforehand (Eph. 2:10 ) and promised that He will perfect this good thing that He started in us until the day of Christ (Phil. 1:6).  God’s Spirit leads to a harvest characterized by goodness along with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22).  The product of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth (Eph. 5:9).  Both the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father comfort and strengthen our hearts in every good work and word (II Thess. 2:16 ).  We can’t wear the uniform without joining.

And what a Corps it is!  Some of “The Few” are listed as examples for the rest of us.  Brother Joseph was a good and upright man (Lk. 23:50 ).  Sister Dorcas was always doing good and helping the poor (Acts 9:36 ).  Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:24 ).  Roman Christians were full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to admonish one another (Rom. 15:14 ).  Christians can sing our own list of historical victories like those of the Marines “from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli .”  I’m sure you know a few of your own.

“The Few” have focus.  Goals make a difference.  We aim to bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).  We want to be counted worthy of our calling in fulfilling every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power (II Thess. 1:11 ).  We want to be sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared to do every good work, cleansed by running away from youthful lusts and chasing down righteousness, faith, love and peace (II Tim. 2:21).  Discipline follows desire. 

“The Few” finish basic training.  We let God equip us in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:21 ).  We develop effective fellowship of our faith through the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ’s sake (Philemon 1:6).  We read, study, and apply the Bible to our lives since Scripture is God-inspired to equip each person of God for every good work through its teaching, reproof, correction, and discipline in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16-17). 

“The Few” execute as trained.  We always do good to Christians and non-Christians (I Thess. 5:15 ).  We use bodies as a living sacrifice ( Rom. 12:1-2). We do good to build up our neighbors ( Rom. 15:2).  We speak in ways that are good for building up others (Eph. 4:29 ). We get ready for every good deed by being peaceable, gentle, and showing consideration for everyone rather than maligning others (Titus 3:1).  We work and give to others (Eph. 4:28 ).  We work showing good faith (Titus 2:10 ) and cooperating (I Pet. 2:18 ).  We do good to all as we have opportunity, especially to fellow Christians (Gal. 6:10 ).

And “The Few” sacrifice from the heart.  We give our bodies because our minds are renewed in Christ ( Rom. 12:1-2).  Good is done by free consent (Philemon 1:14 , I Pet. 3:6). Our goal is love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith (I Tim. 1:5) – one that clings to the good and hates evil (Rom. 12:9).  To find favor with God, we suffer for doing good (I Pet. 2:20 , 3:17 ) and entrust our souls to our Faithful Creator (I Pet. 4:19 ). 

It’s a matter of our Motto: semper fidelis – always faithful.