IS YOUR ARMOR TOO HEAVY?
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
God's Word often illustrates inspired truths by comparing them with objects from everyday life. The apostle Paul often compared our calling with that of an athlete. He tells us if anyone "competes is athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” (2 Tim. 2:5). Near the end of his life, he said he had "fought the good fight," and had "finished the race" (2 Tim. 4:7).
Another line of speech Paul used dealt with the military. He told Timothy to "wage the good warfare" “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;” (1 Tim. 1:18) and to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3).
In the latter part of his life, Paul was constantly surrounded by Roman soldiers. On some occasions he was even chained to his guards. When writing to the brethren at Ephesus, he tells them to put on the "whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-20). The Roman soldier carried his shield, a sword and a spear and wore greaves (shin armor), a breastplate and a helmet.
SPIRITUAL ARMOR
We are not fighting a fleshly battle, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;” (2 Cor. 10:4). In our fight against the wiles of the devil, Paul mentions six distinctive pieces of armor.
"The girdle of truth": The first part of the armor Paul mentioned is the girdle of truth. Paul says, "Stand therefore having your loins girth about with truth".
The girdle was not an ornament -- it was used to bind all the other pieces together and give the soldier freedom of movement. The center of our armor is truth. In John 17:17 Jesus said God's word is truth.
"The breastplate of righteousness": The breastplate of the Roman soldier was made of chain-mail. It was used to protect the heart and other vital organs. Our heart is to be protected by righteousness.
"Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace": The sandals of the foot soldier were composed of thick leather soles studded with cleats of iron. This would give the soldier a firm footing during the battle.
These sandals were designed to make it difficult to walk backwards. This is just as well since the soldier had little or no armor on his back. If he decided to flee from the enemy he would be better off to discard his armor. Our footing must be supplied by the gospel of Christ. "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace" (Romans 10:15).
"The shield of faith": The Roman shield was composed of leather or wicker. It was usually four feet long by two and a half feet wide. The enemy often fired long arrows covered with ignited pitch. If an arrow were to strike a soldier his breastplate would stop the arrow from piercing him, but the pitch would fly off the arrow and set the soldier on fire. Our spiritual enemy does not always attack directly. The shield of faith can protect us from his advances.
"Helmet of salvation": The helmet was made of leather and reinforced with bronze. We are to take, or receive, this helmet from God. It is our salvation.
"Sword of the Spirit": Unlike the legions of Rome, our only offensive weapon is the "sword of the spirit," the word of God (Hebrews 4:12). This was the weapon Christ used when attacked by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11).
Notice that none of the armor covers the back of the soldier. A soldier of Jesus Christ should never retreat in battle. Ours is to push forward and let the armor protect us.
A soldier is never wasting his time while sharpening his sword. Soldiers of the cross need to become more proficient in their use of our only weapon. Timothy was told to give himself to "reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Tim. 4:13). Our armor is to be put on with prayer. Let us always realize we are mere foot-soldiers, God is in control.
A Lesson From a Roman Soldier
Flavius Josephus lived during the height of Rome's military glory. Having been made a Roman citizen by Vespasian, he traveled with the Roman legions during the middle of the first century. Josephus was truly impressed with military discipline.
He claims soldiers always carried their weapons with them, even in time of peace. Furthermore, practice in the proper use of their weapons never ceased. "Every soldier is every day exercised, and that with great diligence, as if it were in time of war, which is the reason why they bear the fatigues of battle so easily"
If only Christians could become as familiar with our weapon, God's word! If we would “....received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) we would never fear the day of battle.
Have you ever wondered what caused a military power like Rome
to meet its downfall? Nearly all historians agree that Rome brought about her
own demise. Edward Gibbon says "the relaxation of discipline, and the disuse of
exercise rendered the soldiers less able, and less willing, to support the
fatigues of service" (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 3, p. 271).
Soldiers were able to convince their officers that the weapons
were too heavy. The Roman sword and shield which had subdued the world was cast
aside. "The cavalry of the Goths, the Huns, and the Alani, had felt the
benefits, and adopted the use, of defensive armor -- they easily overwhelmed the
naked and trembling legions, whose heads and breasts were exposed, without
defense, to the arrows of the barbarians" (Gibbon, p. 271). Gibbon further
states that their "indolence may be considered as the immediate cause of the
downfall of the empire."
Is Your Armor Too Heavy?
Why do I ask that question? The answer will shock you. A recent survey reveals that 8 out of 10 Christian teenagers will abandon their faith after high school. These studies reveal that up to an alarming 95% of Christian teens will walk away from God by their first year in college.
I get the feeling some of our young people have decided spiritual armor just isn't suited for today. I get this impression from their lack of commitment to the Lord., their lack of faithfulness to the Lord and their lack of testimony. Instead of "earnestly contending for the faith" (Jude 3), some young people would rather apologize for it.
Many young people do not have the backbone to fight their enemy, the world, the flesh and the devil. Three times in Ephesians six we are told to "stand." Paul told the Corinthians "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;” (2 Cor10:4, 5) . It is not enough for us to defend the truth in our own comfortable youth meetings, we must attack the citadels of sin and pull down the enemies strongholds!
When General Douglas MacArthur was called home from the Korean war in 1951, he reminded Congress that "wars very object is victory, not prolonged indecision." Young people today can not be interested in merely "holding your own," you must be on the offensive.
Some young people have apparently forgotten who the enemy is. Maybe they need a course in "enemy recognition." Jesus declared that the man who is not with Him is against Him (Matthew 12:30). If a young person is not living for Christ, he or she is a minister of Satan. The devil does not always attack under his own banner, sometimes he advances under a flag of truce. Paul warned us that it is possible for Satan to appear as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).
Conclusion
Let us remember we are in a "fight to the finish" with our enemy. If we remain in a constant state of preparedness, the enemy will not catch us off-guard. At the end of our struggle we have a home prepared for us with other faithful soldiers of the cross. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”. (Rev. 14:13).
6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 6:12 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. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:10-18)