Summary: God will not look you over for medals degrees or diplomas, but for scars. - Elbert Hubbard
If you have ever served in the military, you have heard the term POG (pronounced pogue). It means Persons Other than Grunt or noncombatants. Grunts being the ones in the firefight. POGs are often behind the lines in a good way such as medical, financial, personnel, logistics and such personnel. Some logistic folks are just off the front line to process requests to the rear areas. Medics are usually in the middle of the battle though they are medical. Other POGs do occasionally come under fire and that is why all personnel are given basic combat training.
If necessary a POG can be brought into the battle as a replacement. You could be a cook today and an infantryman in a foxhole tomorrow. I had to inform a young recruit that he filled out his mobility form because after his training Uncle Sam could send him to new and exciting countries to meet new and exciting people and to kill them. He replied in shock, “But I only signed up for the college benefits.” I told him that he did not join the Boy Scouts and we had all of those weapons in the armory for a reason. That unit had already been deployed, and people were working on getting it deployed again. I never saw him again. Recruiter must have found him a safer outfit.
I, by no means, wish to detract from the honor of those who have borne the battle. Indeed, I accept thanks for my service at times in the names of those who did not make it back or came back injured physically or emotionally. They are indeed heroes and I am proud to call them brother. Yet, without the POGs they would not have food, clothes, pay, weapons and ammo. The team has many players. Not all of them are known as Rickenbacker, York, Murphy and many more. Most are in the background and without them the war could not be effectively fought.
God has His POGs as well.
Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Everyone loves the first thirty-four and a half verses of the Hall of Fame. Few preach on the rest of the chapter. These are God’s POGs if we see the others mentioned as the Grunts or warriors that won. These people did not come home to a parade or a respected position in the community. These never came home or the parade was their funeral procession. Many warriors experience the same thing.
No one wants to talk about these people as they do not fit our American Dream now in a gilded theological frame called the Prosperity Gospel. These people are considered failures. Worse yet, they may be called people who lacked faith because they did not become wealthy and famous. Yet here they are in the Hall of Faith.
In the military, you may get called a POG in jest or it may be cast in your teeth as a cruel slur. I fully confess I was a POG in three branches of the military being in Logistics, Administration, Legal, Personnel and as an instructor. I was on the team, and the coach put me where he wanted me so I am not ashamed of my service though I have no Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts or a Combat Infantry Badge. I have been in units where many would not even know me or what I did. Many Nam Vets disown me because I served in Thailand, not Nam. Our planes ran sorties into Nam everyday, but I was never boots on the ground there. To some, I am a nobody because of that. Yet, I wore the uniform and in Jungle Fatigues or later BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform) you might not be able to tell me from an Infantryman.
I am afraid that we often forget the POGs in church life. We all look to the pastor and staff as heroes, and many are such. We look at the TV preachers and the authors of a myriad of books as God’s Commandos on the front lines in direct combat with the enemy. Some are and some are Garret Troopers or those who talk about just coming back from two weeks fighting in the bush when they are standing there in spit shined boots having never left the garrison or post in the rear area.
There are many in church life who will never be known for what they do in the background. They are never on the platform as a speaker or singer. They often serve in areas that most would not want to serve. Few want to be the janitor or in the childcare ministry. Some are involved in nursing home ministry or working in food banks and soup kitchens. Some maintain the building. Some are generous in the area of finance and others in their time and talents. You may never know who was the one who prayed for your or some phase of ministry in hard times and they were the ones God answered instead of you. Prayer warriors are not seen, but they are not to be disdained. When I lost a prayer warrior in college, I knew it.
Sometimes I regret going to Bible College. I may have had more impact as a POG. When I was first saved, I knocked on a man’s door to invite him to church and he wanted to know if I was the pastor, deacon or Sunday School teacher. When I replied that I was not of them he somewhat demanded to know who I was. I replied that I guess I am just a member. “Just a member,” he retorted!! He never came and no one had told me I had to have a title or job to evangelize.
Some people have some odd thoughts about pastors and one time someone told me it was hard to believe I was a pastor because I did not act like one. I was concerned and then they said something like I was human and had a sense of humor. I was relieved that I had not been unseemly in some way. I think my title scared away some folks. Some people would never listen to me without some titles and papers, so I have them for those people, but Brother Ron is fine with me.
I actually had my best time of ministry when I was an Associate Pastor instead of being the only Pastor. There is so much red tape and earthy stuff required of a pastor. As the Associate, I got to do the real ministry part of it. Instead of planning budgets, overseeing remodeling, etc. etc. I ministered in the nursing home, jail, rescue mission, taught the adult Sunday School and was the Superintendent while filling in for the pastor sometimes with nearly no notice. In fact, I was doing all of that before I got the title. The jail required me to have the title of pastor to meet with people one on one. I told the pastor and he said he had wanted to make me the Associate but had no money to give me. I said I am doing it all without pay now, so why does it matter? I cannot do my job without a silly title. I did not need it for anything but the jail. The rest required no degree or title.
God is always open to having more POGs that are willing to serve without pay, title, prestige or whatever. He has called us all to minister in some way. As part of the Body, we have one or more gifts we are to use. We will not be fulfilled if we are not using them. He does not give us bric-a-brac gifts to collect dust on a shelf. They are met to be used.
I will give you fair warning that you may at times be treated like the people in this passage. The enemy will attack you. Sometimes the brethren will attack you. It may not be easy ministry. In some cases, it might mean losing a job, a friend, a family member, your health, your wealth and even your life depending on where you are and what ministry He has called you to do. No one, not even you, may know the impact you are making in the Kingdom until you are at the BEMA.
That actually may be a blessing as it can keep you from falling into pride and destroying yourself. Paul was not completely sure how his work would be rewarded, but he did not worry about it as he said he judged nothing before the time but at the end he knew he had at least one crown. I often wonder how much of my life will be wood, hay and stubble or gold, silver and precious stones. Yet I cannot judge because something I thought was great maybe stubble and something I saw as stubble was actually gold.
So, are you will to be God’s POG or are you only wanting to be the Grunt with all the medals? Remember, there are scars for some of those medals. Both Grunt and POG can have scars.
God will not look you over for medals degrees or diplomas, but for scars. - Elbert Hubbard
You may not have scars like the little girl that showed a general how to find the prophet to be healed, but then again, she was a slave and we do not know her name. There is an unknown prophet that spoke boldly before a king but lost his life because he listened to someone else instead of finishing his obedience to God. Be careful of prophets that want to lead you from your mission. Then again, you may be with the people in the last part of Hebrews 11 and not the first.
Are you ready to take your place in the Kingdom though it be anonymous and even painful? David started out as a POG and became a king. You may stay a POG, but as long as you put Him first and serve where He wants then it does not matter what you are here as you will be a prince or princess in the Millennium and an heir in eternity. Indeed, the price we may pay is insignificant compared to what is our inheritance. Maranatha!!!