The Armor of God
As we envision the Knights in Shining Armor of the past, we might be reminded of how courageous they appeared as the swordsmen raced toward one another upon the backs of bold and determined steads. They were relentless until one or the other had fallen to his death.
There was a living, breathing human being inside each set of armor. Focusing on one in particular, let's speculate how this jousting match came to be:
Likely as a young man, the knight began preparing for the day his competition would take place long before it happened. When the helmet was first placed upon his head, it strained his neck and put pressure on his temple. The breastplate made him uncomfortable as it dug into his ribs and made it difficult to breathe. As his belt was tightened, he groaned and wondered how he was going to manage. Placed in one hand was a gold plated shield he could barely lift, and in the other an ornate silver sword that made his arm and wrist ache as he raised it pridefully into the air. He was told that his feet should be at the ready at all times. Though excited about the challenge, he doubted himself and had no idea how he was going to find the strength to do the will of the king.
As time went on, the young knight to be was gaining strength. He listened to the other knights. He read up on the laws and rules of knighthood. He hung out with others who were in the same situation as he was, as well as those with more experience and asked questions that helped him grow as a knight. When he was alone, he worked with each piece of armor individually until he was comfortable with it and then added one after another until he was in full armor. Day after day the heart and soul of this knight grew stronger until he knew he was ready. Did he have a few twinges of doubt from time to time, sure, but overall he had the faith he needed to do the job .
As we forge ahead with God's promise in hand, we too will be protected by armor, but this armor of the Lord is all housed within us.
"Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can 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,.....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 the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit which is the work of God. And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...." Ephesians 6:10-18
Our armor will feel heavy and awkward at first as well, yet continued prayer and faith will lighten the burden and make this "Life on Mission" well worth the challenge. How are you doing on your checklist?
Ephesians 6:10-20
