Many of time we talk about how we need to do this in high school, reach out to people, stop doing this or that sin. We hear a lot about what we need/should/want to do, but instead, lets take a look at how we can do it. Life is like a battleground, we are going to experience times of success, failure, difficult, and peace. That's how things are gonna be. We are always having to fight against the things we want to do because it's how the world "has fun". It's easy to want to get wrapped up in them. Yet, Christians are given the tools to fight back. Just as soldiers go into battle prepared, so do the Sons and Daughters of God.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
This is a passage from the 6th chapter of Ephesians talking about the Armor of God. Let's break down what Paul is talking about here as the Armor of God. The first item that lays the foundation, and helps to hold things together is the Belt of Truth. Girding your loins with truth is another way of talking about fastening a belt around your waist. Truth is what lays the foundation for fighting against sin and the devil. Knowing what is true will help us in making the right decisions in life and knowing that our God is true and faithful. If we don't know what is true, then how can we believe God, know what is right and wrong, and make the right decisions. So putting on that belt of truth is the foundation of living a Godly life.
Now we take a look at the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is that ability to know what is right and wrong, and then making the Godly decision with it. What's interesting is how righteousness is described as a breastplate. Breastplates protect the heart. In a spiritual sense, our heart is the one that gives us the desires in life, that place where those desires come from. So when we put on that breastplate of righteousness, we are protecting our heart, letting it's desires line up with God's righteousness.
When we talk about reaching out to people, and taking the Gospel to different places, we don't go there on our hands, or our head. We use our feet. Our feet are the ones that take us places. So that is why we prepare our feet for the Gospel of truth, to take it where God is leading us to.
Shields is the piece of armor that is used as the main article of defense. Just like in our walk in life, the shield of faith. When we are unsure of ourselves, our situations, or going through trials and temptations, we can always fall back on our faith to lead us through and to overcome these temptations. Our faith is what keeps us going, and protects us the most. Thus why Paul describes faith as a shield, the foundation of defense and protection.
The helmet of salvation is always a powerful one for me. It's what protects our mind. In Romans Chapter 12 is says, "Therefore do not be confirmed to the ways of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Our Salvation all begins with that mental realization that we need Jesus, and the decision to follow Him. As we put on the Helmet of Salvation that God has given us, we will be ready to make wise decisions and lead a Godly life with "our heads on straight".
Finally, our weapon of warfare, the sword of the Spirit. When we face those trials and temptations, hard times, good times, the armor that God gives us protects us. However, we can just sit there and continue to take a beating, we gotta fight back. God gives us the perfect weapon, His word. The bible gives us everything we need to lead a Godly life and to fight back against what the devil throws at us. That is why we call the word of God our sword.
As we wake up each morning, preparing for school and life, I encourage you to put on the armor of God so that we can live a life that is honoring and pleasing to Him. When we continue to seek Him, God will gives us the Armor that we need to honor Him each and everyday.
