Armor of God

In our attempts to live according to God’s way, we are often put to the test by a variety of things that, at times, seem almost designed to pull us away from Him. To some extent, the effort to live right is comparable to a battle. So, it is fitting that when Paul explains how we are equipped to deal with the things set against us, he describes the tools given to us in terms of armament. If we are to have any chance in the fight against the things that oppose us, we must put on the Armor of God.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – Ephesians 6:10-13

Paul didn’t leave the meaning of the metaphor unclear. He explained which spiritual tool makes up each piece of the armor. It would be beneficial for all of us to understand which tool given to us is meant to play what role.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. – Ephesians 6:14-17

Going out of order a little, let’s start with the helmet. The singular function of a helmet is to protect the head. Our heads are where our brains are located. As a result they are the most vital parts of our body and also the parts where the most crucial damage can be done if attacked. Paul compares the helmet to salvation. He is telling us that our salvation is what protects us from the most dangerous opposition, the opposition that can literally mean the end for us. Salvation is what wards off the things that would drag us straight to Hell if we aren’t properly equipped.

While attacks to our heads would be the most devastating, the head is a small target and hard to hit. You may have seen action movies where the heroes are always landing perfect headshots that instantly end the battle. That’s not reality. There is a reason soldiers and police are trained to aim for the torso. It’s a bigger target and thus where we are most vulnerable. The breastplate is the part of the armor that protects the torso. Paul says that righteousness is what plays that role. Righteousness is what protects us where we are most vulnerable. That vulnerability may be different for each person. For some it could be sexual lust or susceptibility to drugs and alcohol. For others, it may be rage or dishonesty. For most of us, we are highly vulnerable to a mixture of sins. The Bible is telling us that seeking righteousness is how we rise above those things. As we cling to righteousness, we find something that allows us to rise above the sinful things that threaten to pull us down.

A foot soldier may find himself traversing a variety of different terrains, some very harsh. For that reason, sturdy footwear is also an important part of a soldier’s armament. Our lives may take us many different places and put us in a variety of different situations, some good and some that may be dangerous to us. Paul tells us that the Gospel, particularly the readiness that comes from it, protects us in the same way footwear protects the soldier. No matter what the environment in which we find ourselves placed, if we are being led by the Gospel we will be able to walk through it without fear of injury or impedance.

A belt may seem like an odd thing for Paul to call out, but remember belts are used to hold the different pieces of armor together and to provide a means for holding things that need to be carried. Paul says the belt represents truth. Truth ties everything together. All the different pieces work as a unified defense only if we accept and promote the truth, which is that Jesus was the Son of God and He died for our sins so that we may live.

The last two pieces are bonuses of sorts. Technically, they aren’t armor, but they are essential for anyone who wants to be fully armed. The first is the shield. Like the armor, its primary use is for defense. However, whereas armor acts passively, the shield can be used to actively defend against attacks. According to Paul, the shield represents faith. Our faith isn’t something that just rests on us like armor. It is something we have to be proactive about using. We must make intentional use of faith as we live our lives, and when we do we will be able to defend ourselves from the attacks launched at us from both near and far.

Lastly, there is the sword. A sword is a weapon and typically associated with offense more than defense, however, in truth, it can play both roles. Sure it can be used to strike out at an enemy, but it can also be used to parry and block the incoming strikes from the enemy. Paul says the sword is the word of God. This actually isn’t the only time that the Bible compares God’s word to a sword. Hebrews 4:12 says:

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Hebrews verse also shows the duality of the word as a sword. Knowledge and understanding of the word can equip us to block out the sinful things that could lead us astray from our walk with God. However, by sharing the word with others, we are effectively using it to cut down the evil influences around us. When we wield the word, we protect ourselves from without and within.

Historically, armor and weapons were expensive, so only nobles and other wealthy warriors were able to afford and carry the best weaponry and armor. When it comes to the armament provided to us by God, it’s all free. Once we decide to follow Him, the greatest armor in the world becomes standard issue. The world is full of wickedness. Do yourself a favor, strap on the full armor of God and wear it wherever you go. Only then can you be confident that you’ll be protected from everything the world has to throw at you.

Chris Lawyer

Image Courtesy of www.billosborne.com