Battles: The Armor

Thankfully, in the fierce battles that face the Christian, he is not defenseless. Satan, along with the worldly system that he governs, presents a formidable foe. While the Christian does feel the intensity of the onslaught, he does not have to crumble under the attack. It is possible for a believer to stand firm when he is sheathed in the armor of God.

The description of the Christian's armor in Ephesians 6:10-18 makes it abundantly clear that the defense depends upon God. Left to himself, the believer would never be able to face the daunting attacks. With God to strengthen and protect him, however, the result is much different.

The believer is first commanded to be strong. Twice in verse 10, that strength is attributed to being God's: "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." There is no human strength capable of meeting the other-worldly enemy.

The second command is to "put on the full armor of God" (v. 11). It is sometimes assumed that the various pieces of armor relate to something the believer is supposed to do - like being truthful, being righteous, and sharing the gospel. On the contrary, each piece of the armor is something God provides as protection for the Christian. The believer's only hope is in clothing himself with the armor that only God can manufacture.

"Having girded your loins with truth" - Truth is the belt that holds everything together, but it is not man's truth. It is God's truth. The believer takes the truths of God's Word, and those truths help to protect him against the attacks. The stabilizing truths of God tell the believer that God has redeemed him, that God always loves him, that God is always with him, that God has power to defend him. In the midst of the battle, there is no room for doubts, errors, or wrong thinking, but a believer can stand firm when he is surrounded by God's truth.

"Having put on the breastplate of righteousness" - Righteousness is the protection that covers the most vulnerable parts. One powerful thrust through the heart and man would be finished. He needs therefore a breastplate that no sword can pierce. Man's righteousness is not sufficient. When someone is saved, Christ's righteousness is imputed to him. Christ's righteousness is so perfect that the armor has no chink that can be exploited. There can be no ultimate defeat and no condemnation when Christ's righteousness provides the protection.

"Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" - The gospel is what carries the believer on his journey. The gospel is one of peace; the salvation that Christ provided not only brings peace to the condemned soul but will ultimately lead to peace in His kingdom - the only true peace the world will ever know. Christ will end all wars by winning the ultimate battle. The awareness of this gospel gives hope and confidence to the believer to be able to move forward.

"Taking up the shield of faith" - Faith is the shield that is able to withstand the brunt of the attacks. The attacks are not always the same. The flaming arrows may at times represent doubts or fears or confusion or any other temptation, but faith in God and in His Word can stop every arrow. Just as a shield can shift positions, the Word of God is so versatile that it can be directed effectively regardless of the focus of the attack. God's Word, God's promises, and God's character are worthy of faith. When the arrows fly, the believer responds with "But God says . . . ," and the extinguished arrows fall harmlessly to the ground.

"Take the helmet of salvation" - Salvation is the protection for another vital area of the body. Again, one well-placed blow to the head would finish the soldier, but God's salvation cannot be conquered. Once for all His salvation is complete. Those who are saved are now invincible through the efficient work of Christ. They cannot be destroyed and cannot taste of eternal death.

Each of these pieces of defensive armor is from God. The armor is not about what the believer does. It is about relying on what God has already done and already said. The believer is protected due to his position in Christ, and as long as he remembers the protection, he can stand firm without fearing the battle.

Standing firm sounds like a great challenge in the midst of a ferocious battle. The fact that it can be done attests to the quality of the armor. When the believer trusts the armor and has confidence in it, he can stand firm under a barrage of arrows and under unending attacks. He knows that no real damage can be done and that the assault is powerless. If the believer forgets or loses confidence in the armor, he will fall down, surrender, be captured, hide, or retreat. He can allow himself to be defeated needlessly and to give up when the victory is at hand. The armor of man would give reason to despair, but the armor of God means victory is always possible.

"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." Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)