In this twenty-fifth episode, Pastor Luke continues his mini-series of four shows dedicated to what he learned from attending the retirement ceremony of his dear friend Captain Brad Geary.

On The Grinder at the BUD/S training center, there is a large brass bell hanging under a sign that reads, “Drop Area,” with a two-foot section of rope attached to it. When a candidate can no longer endure the rigors of this program, they are required to ring the bell three times. This signifies that they are quitting, and voluntarily removing themselves from the SEAL pipeline.

When a SEAL candidate rings the bell, he leaves his helmet with his class number on it next to the bell. These helmets remain there lined up throughout the different phases as a constant reminder of the men that quit. Likewise, may the memory of those we have all known, who quit Christ, serve as a warning to bury that bell, far out of the reach of our hearts and minds

For Christian men, fainting in the day of adversity is equivalent to ringing the bell. Demonstrating that your strength is indeed not small, but great, means eliminating thoughts of quitting altogether from your mind.

Don’t ring the bell. Yesterday was easy!