Why Do We Want the Battle to Stop?

In the Lord of the Rings books, there is a part of the story that I'm always interested in why the movie directors did not include in the movie.  The Hobbits, who are a very integral part of the story and have been in many battles, near death many times, ultimately threw the strongest evil into the mountain so it would be defeated, and had the king bow to them, return home.  They are tired and have seen great evil and great victory.  They have scars as well.

In the movie they return home and the scene is a peaceful place where they are all sitting at a bar having a drink together.  They are wondering what to do now.  In the book, they return and the village is being ruled by goblins and they fight them, defeat them and then the village returns as a peaceful place.  Of course, we like the idea of the movie better in life.  We fought, did battle, there was a victory and now we can return to a home that is untouched by that evil.  Yet, I think the book better clarifies life where we fought, did battle, there was a victory and we return home to have to fight more evil attacking a different area.  So, tired and weary, we wonder if it will stop.

I'm reminded of a story of a missionary who was returning by ship from being on the field in South America for over 40 years.  He and his wife were old now, had very little to call their own, and were returning in near ambiguity to live the rest of their lives in a very meek manner.  Also on their ship was Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from an exhibition of exploration in the Amazon.  When the ship arrived there was much celebration and large crowds to welcome Mr. Roosevelt while the missionary couple exited the ship virtually unknown and unseen.

Finally, it was too much for the missionary man.  He looked at his wife and said, "Forty years on the field, the best parts of our life given to others, and no one even knows our name or that we've returned!"  His wife takes his hand and looks him in the eyes and replies, "That's because we're not home yet!"

Will it ever stop?  Yes.  One day we will be at our home.  It has been prepared by our Creator.  ...   But, I wonder if the better question should be, "Why do we want it to stop?"  We have a unique privilege.  Yes, I said a privilege.  We get to be on the ground in the face of evil and be filled with the Spirit if we so choose to be.  We are fools if we choose not to because we will certainly be in the face of evil.  And we get to engage.  I wonder how many angels sitting in heaven, in the presence of an Almighty God, would gladly trade places with us.  Are they eager to have the chance to be in one fight, to show evil the power of their God?  ...  Why aren't we? 

We should not want the battle to stop but be ever eager for one more chance to show the world the power of our God.  To have Him prove our faith once again.