Dressed for Battle

         I often watch the news and now and then see the soldiers that have been deployed around the world to all kinds of different climates. A lot of those areas are what looks like desert waste lands with few vegetation around them and usually hot. The solder pictured in each of the scenes is still dressed in full battle gear. The steel helmet which has a variety of items attached to it to the combat boots and everything in between. It seems as if every part of his body is protected and then he still carries a variety of armaments including machine guns, pistols, rifles and knives. Not one of the soldier in the picture had on just a T-shirt and shorts and penny loafers. When you are in a war, you need protection and are willing to put it on regardless of the heat of the day. Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, likewise, in a war. Ephesians 6:11-13 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

        The Apostle Paul, probably guarded by a member of the Roman army, was inspired by God to write about the armor of the believer and he covered it all, piece by piece from the helmet on his head to the shoes on his feet. A spiritual description was put on each and every piece. We realize that Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus. They were believers already but there is nonetheless, times when the armor seems to be standing in the corner and the believers are walking around as if in a T-shirt and penny loafers while the battle rages around them. God knew that we would be like that and so included this passage to remind us to “put on” the armor that He has supplied. This passage is taught in Sunday School for all ages from the youngest to the oldest. It is preached on as one of the more famous portions of Scripture. It is easy to illustrate and almost everyone seems to be able to associate with it because almost every country and every culture has an army of one sort or another. We are also reminded that the armor described in this passage has but one offensive weapon and that is the Sword. In this care, it is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. It's the Bible. Verse 10 begins with “...Be strong in the LORD...” It's a command. It isn't just good advice, it's a command. You and I are in this world in which we are all engaged in a spiritual battle. We can't see the enemy, but he is there. The question has to be presented to us saying, “Where is your battle gear?” Paul was writing to believers and so the point isn't salvation, but it is the instruments you need as a soldier in the army of the King. If you go out into battle and leave your shield sitting in the corner that's what you are going to need when the battle starts. Look at Paul's description of each piece and make sure that yours are in the best condition. Praise God today that He has given to us all of the piece of the armor to insure the best protection in the battle in which you and I are engaged. Make sure you have “put it on.”