The Whole Armor Of God (John Guzzetta)

One of Paul's favorite themes is to compare the Christian life to a battle. He frequently exhorts Christians to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 1:18) and to “put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). He reminded Timothy to focus his efforts on God and avoid becoming entangled in the affairs of everyday life, because “soldiers in active service” strive to please “the one who enlisted them” (2 Timothy 2:4).

Of course, Paul's inspired comparison is not literal. Christians aren't really supposed to stockpile weapons and prepare to fight Satan's worldly armies with guns and flak jackets. If the goal of God's battle was this kind of earthly victory, David Koresh never would have lost to the ATF, and Jewish authorities and Roman soldiers never would have hung Jesus on a cross (see the Lord's own comments in Matthew 26:51–54 and John 18:36).

Instead, figuratively speaking, Christians are involved in a battle. This war is waged within the human spirit and in heaven (Revelation 12:7), against the spiritual powers of Satan. In 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul reminds us, “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” In Ephesians 6:12 he said, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Every time temptation confronts us, battle lines between good and evil are drawn. Every time a person must choose to obey or reject Christ, heavenly forces strive for victory. Though God promises He will win in the end, the battle in heaven rages to and fro behind the scenes, fighting for the allegiance of human souls on earth. Our decisions on earth land spiritual blows against one side or the other.

One of the most inspiring calls to join this battle on the side of good, is the description of the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:13–17: “Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Paul bases this passage on the battle gear of the Roman soldier of his time, who would be visible daily walking about the streets and walls of all the cities of the Roman empire. Paul includes each major piece in the Roman soldier's equipment in his description of the armor of God.

Loins Girded with Truth

A soldier "girded his loins" by strapping on his belt. Since loose clothing was commonplace in that culture, a belt was needed to gather it all in so that quick and agile actions were possible on the battlefield. Girding one's loins became synonymous with a readied position, whether to run from one place to another (1 Kings 18:46), or to be mentally ready (1 Peter 1:13).

For a Christian, truth is this belt. The understanding and practice of truth allows a Christian to gather in all the loose ends of his life and become set for action. A Christian with no concern for truth finds himself tripped up and hindered every time he attempts movement. Having his life prioritized and arranged in accordance with a secure grasp of truth gives him the preparation he needs to "stand firm" in battle. Breastplate of Righteousness

The armor of a Roman soldier was made of smaller interlocking pieces of leather and metal. The breastplate, however, was one solid piece which protected his upper body, especially the heart and other vital organs. A blow to the arm was painful enough, but a solid blow to the chest could easily be fatal without the thick, inflexible defense of the breastplate.

"Righteousness" is the quality of being in a right relationship with God. It expresses itself in a Christian's daily life by avoiding sinful behavior. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:11, "fleshly lusts wage war against the soul." Righteousness protects a Christian's spiritual heart. Without righteousness, Satan finds an easy, exposed target. Christians can be strong in many areas, but must behave in a righteous manner to remain in the fight. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace

Roman soldiers wore sandals which enabled them to march long distances over rough terrain. It is eye-opening that Paul paired the gospel with the feet. The gospel of peace is the "good news" which declares the sacrifice of Jesus to redeem mankind. The gospel has the power to save (Romans 1:16). But the gospel is nothing without someone to bear it to the lost. "How shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). Therefore, every Christian must lace up his gospel shoes and get busy carrying the gospel to their friends and neighbors. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things" (Romans 10:15). In the spiritual battle against Satan, God's soldiers mount the most crippling offenses when they spread the gospel to other people. It is a doubly-effective blow. Not only does it eliminate members of Satan's force, it adds them to God's force. Christians who fail to be messengers of the gospel lack a vital piece of equipment.

Shield of Faith

The soldier's shield gave him a reliable first line of defense against attack, especially against the burning arrows and other missiles that would be flung across a battlefield into their ranks. During the spiritual battle, Satan begins hurling flaming missiles of doubt and temptation early, to whittle down the ranks of Christians before they can even close the distance to begin hand to hand combat. A sturdy faith acts as a shield to block and extinguish these attacks. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Helmet of Salvation

In physical combat-like in many sports today, such as football, hockey, and biking-the helmet is the most important piece of equipment. A biker can fall off his bike and suffer many cuts and bruises, and keep on going, but if he bumps his head with no helmet, he will lose the race, and maybe his life. Likewise, a soldier can survive a blow to the arm or body and keep fighting, but even a glancing blow to the head is often fatal.

Salvation is that deliverance from sin that comes from God, through His grace. Salvation is so powerful that it turns aside even the most powerful weapons in Satan's arsenal-distress, persecution, peril, sword, death, life, powers, and "any other created thing" (Romans 8:31-39). How foolish to enter spiritual battle without the helmet!

Sword of the Spirit

For all his defensive armament, no soldier would be complete without a weapon to go on the offense and attack-the sword. God has given Christians a powerful sword, too-the word of God. This sword is forged by God's own arm, and "is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). God's soldier must train in the use of his sword, "handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), and prepare to use it when an opportunity to strike Satan presents itself. He must be "always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2).

CATS, DOGS AND NICOTINE

Cats don't chew tobacco, Dogs don't chew, of course; Cows don't chew it either, Neither does the horse.

Hogs are filthy creatures, Hens are bad enough, They eat most anything, But they won't touch the stuff!

Just men and women use it, They smoke right on the street; They ought to be ashamed to use What dogs and hogs won't eat.