Neal Pollard
Charles Mercer’s short book, The Way of Alexander the Great, chronicles the path of this great king of Asia to world domination. He had led his Macedonian army of less than 50,000 men from Iran to Uzbekistan, then on to Afghanistan and now headed to India. By this time, they had covered almost 9,000 miles, including arduous treks over mountains and snow and unbearable heat. As they approached the Khyber Pass to enter India, Alexander noticed how slowly his troops were moving. While the terrain was partially to blame, the bigger culprit was “the staggering weight of the booty they had with them” (98). They were about to face “fierce mountain warriors” who would contest “nearly ever mile of their progress” (99). Early one morning, Alexander did what must have been considered unthinkable. Mercer writes,
Alexander set fire to his own baggage wagon and then commanded that his soldiers’ wagons be burned too. Surprisingly few men protested this action. Plutarch says that ‘most of the soldiers, as if they had been inspired, uttering loud outcries and warlike shoutings, supplied one another with what was absolutely necessary and burnt and destroyed all that was superfluous’ (ibid.).
While Alexander was no doubt driven by conquering the world, he understood that anything that hindered that goal must be discarded, no matter how seemingly valuable it was. His men eagerly followed his leadership, regarding the battle more important than the bounty. With the benefit of hindsight, we know that such decision-making led Alexander to indeed overcome all enemies.
Alexander, though far from a moral bastion, nonetheless illustrates the spiritual challenge confronting Christians living in this world. Paul teaches that God’s people are in a spiritual battle with Satan and his dark forces (Eph. 6:10ff). It is a battle against forces equipped with “flaming arrows” (Eph. 6:16), “roaring lions” (1 Pet. 5:8) and formidable “schemes” (Eph. 6:11; 2 Cor. 2:11). In addition, we can be beset by our own lusts (cf. Js. 1:13-15). The writer of Hebrews adds that we can get burdened with encumbrances and entanglements (12:2). God has given us impenetrable spiritual armor to face the enemy’s offensive, but we also may have to burn our baggage wagons. Whatever holds us back and keeps us from successfully navigating the narrow way is an ever-present hazard that may be everlastingly costly!
If only we will see what we stand to gain by shedding the weight of the world! We are not attempting world domination, like Alexander was. We are trying to overcome this world (1 John 5:4)! Are you prepared to keep only what is “absolutely necessary and burn and” destroy all that is superfluous? Do we need to burn some baggage wagons?
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