The Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:14-17

First, let me ask your forgiveness for the crassness of some of the following words. I read over this passage in my Bible study and the following are the thoughts that came through my mind. I felt that I needed to share it. Even though the first point may involve improper subject matter, I hope it still makes the concept real to your life.

1.) “Gird your loins with truth”
I’m really not 100% sure what “loins” are, but I guess because they rhyme, I’ve always thought it had something to do with groin. And because I’m trying to draw a specific analogy, I’m not going to research it but rather just go with it. If loin really is similar to groin, then this makes sense whey it is first. Everyone knows that the quickest way to disable a man is to dismantle the groin. Every man instinctively protects the goods first and foremost. If we take a blow to this area, we are immediately at a disadvantage.

Similarly, truth is foundational. If we take a blow to what we perceive as truth, then we are immediately weakened. For this reason, truth is one of the first things to be attacked. In fact, we live in a culture that tells us there is no absolute truth. It is as if we are the victims up continuous crotch shots. Obviously, this is not a pretty picture in many ways. Perhaps, this is why we are instructed to gird our loins with truth first. Know the truth. Understand the truth. It will become like a cup that blocks the blows of the enemy and gives you confidence to “stand strong” as instructed in the previous verse. (Ephesians 6:13-14)

2.) “Put on the breastplate of righteousness”
The breastplate protected the chest and major organs. It is the primary target when trying to make an efficient strike. It is the largest area mass and is relatively still and unchanging during movement. If someone threatens your life and you are forced to shoot them, aim “center mass.”

Our righteousness is given to us at the moment of salvation when we are “made right” in God’s eyes. There are several things to say about this. First, our righteousness is given by God and sealed by the presence of God in our hearts which, of course, lies in our chest. You may feel this is being too literal but I’m reminded of the Christian hip-hopper who chanted “God’s in my chest” and of Toby Mac who sang “put an X on my chest ‘cause X marks the spot.” This will also be an area which will receive many blows. We all know that “no one is perfect.” Because of this, many will say no one is righteous. I would have to agree were it not for the fact that this righteousness is not our own. The Bible tells us that our (self) righteousness is but filthy rags in the eyes of God. (Isaiah 64:6) The only righteousness that ca be acceptable to God is His righteousness which is present where He abides. It is, therefore, unchanging and a foundational characteristic which will try to be undermined in order to bring you down. Satan will remind you of all your sins and constantly attack you at your most vulnerable points to keep your attention on your unworthiness instead of on His righteousness. It can be argued that this is the “joy of (our) salvation.” (Psalm 51:12) The joy of his salvation is what David lost when he fell down the spiral staircase of sin beginning with his lust for Bathsheba.

3.) “shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace”
I admit this is one of my least insightful pieces of armor, which I fear may betray some need of mine. I will commit to praying for this issue and making needed changes. My first thoughts got to the rocky terrain I grew on. We were true backwoods country folk, and many considered it a shame to wear shoes. My dad would almost always go barefoot. I, on the other hand, never appreciated the idea of walking on sharp rocks and “stickers” without some protection. After all, we had bought the shoes, correct?! Why not use them for what they were intended for? Besides, I was the younger brother. There was never any telling when I would need to run from the dangers of my older brother. My shoes gave me an advantage.

Have you ever seen a Christian dancing around an issue? Perhaps that was because he had not put on his spiritual armor footwear. Scripture tells us Satan will lay open traps before our feet. Verse 13 gives the main reason for spiritual armor is to be able to “stand firm” in the evil day. It’s hard to stand at all when your feet are all messed up, much less stand firm or even move out on the offensive.

4.) “take up the shield of faith”
Obviously, the shield was a broad object that deflected the offensive weapons of the enemy before they could reach the soldier. For one who has faith, the weapons of the enemy can seem quite trivial. Flaming arrows and darts may come our way, but our faith is settled. Such faith is not a way of passively ignoring valid arguments, but rather a rational cognitive understand of the end result. Most shields were made of wood, so therefore, some sturdy well aimed arrows may have stuck into the wood. Faith actually absorbs the broad range of criticisms and shows their ultimate impotence.

Shields could also be used for offense. If you remember a scene from “Gladiator,” Maximus uses his shield to neutralize a combatant in the arena. One’s true faith may be the evidence another needs to realize the possible futility of Satan’s arsenal.

5.) “take the helmet of salvation”
As mentioned earlier, salvation is more of a heart issue than a head issue, so I wary to make any such connection. I think it is more a severity issue. The head is our most vulnerable area. A point could be said that as long as one has salvation, then let come what may! A soldier can possibly take a wound to the chest and still be able to act. But a trauma to the head could take him out of the fight completely. Perhaps the head is the most important body area discussed. Definitely, salvation sits above the other attributes and is vital for the others to have any significance.

6.) “(take) the sword of the Spirit”
Much attention is given to the idea that the sword is the only offensive weapon listed, and there is much validity to it. When Christ was being attacked by Satan, Christ used the Word of God to combat him. But what are the characteristics of a sword that may give us further insight? I’ve always loved swords and sword play. It’s almost as if there is pageantry in the aggressiveness. The swordsman practices with his sword regularly to the point where the sword almost becomes an extension of his body. Many older cultures considered the sword of the warrior as a symbol of the spirit of the fighter, and it became an identity.

Herein, lays some analogies we can work with. How great a shame it is that we have no practice with our “sword!” There are even some who are unaware that they have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside them. How are we ever to be victorious in spiritual warfare if we have no idea how to wield the sword of the Spirit? We must spend time every day to hone our skills in using this powerful weapon to the point that He becomes an identifying prominent part of us. However, let us always remember whose power it is! It is the “sword of the Spirit” and not our sword. The power is God’s. When we claim our own skill base sufficient to handle this great power, we will quickly realize that we are grossly unprepared on our own. The Spirit is the only One who can brandish this weapon as needed. I am reminded of the movie “The Last Samurai.” The main character keeps failing miserably at learning how to sword fight. His greatest piece of advise comes to him in the words “too many mind.” He was thinking too much. We too make our mistake when we think we can control the sword of the Spirit to do what we want. The greatest power is realized when we give up control and allow the Spirit to have dominion in our life.