“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.” (Eph 6:12) Fortunately, Paul then tells us how God has
equipped us for these battles. He
describes the armor God has supplied, beginning with the belt of truth which
helps us rightly discern what battle we are facing.
Next is the breastplate of righteousness which covers our
sinful heart with the righteousness of Christ.
Our feet are “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace” because the Great Commission tells us to go into all the world and share
The Good News. Hold up the shield of
faith because it is our steadfast faith in the goodness of God that helps us
overcome the enemy. Finally, Paul tells
us to take the helmet of salvation- bought by the blood of Christ that covers
our mind- with the sword of the Spirit which divides between marrow and bone,
soul and spirit.
In any war, there comes a point where things stall. You seem to
gain no ground and you are tired. Paul says having done all of this-- putting
on the armor and praying-- to simply stand. I think of those scenes in movies
where someone stands still and you see blurred images pass by at light-speed on
either side. Psalm 91: 5-8 tells us: “You will not fear
the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the
pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday . A thousand may fall at your side, ten
thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only
observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Remember that promise of protection the next time you fight
the invisible war and remember, too, that with His death and resurrection,
Jesus has already won the victory for us.