The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:14: "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."

Your choice to wear the Armor of God is a good one - it is the best choice you will make when it comes to living a life worthy of imitation... a life where your eyes are fixed on hope eternal and salvation everlasting, and where you strive - each day - to battle on behalf of a God that needs each and every one of us to tap into our inner warriors.

But that first time you go to pick up the Armor, are you a bit nervous? Do you size it up and wonder how this glittering piece of workmanship -- the very embodiment of the strength of God -- could ever fit onto the frail frame of a simple human? If you're like me, perhaps you feel like a bit of a klutz as you try to put it on the first time... flitting and flopping every which way as you struggle to figure out how the breastplate of righteousness tucks into the belt of truth or why the shoes of the readiness to spread the gospel of piece are a bit snug while your sweaty palms make that sword of the spirit slip in your grasp... point being, you're not sure what to do first... the strength of God, every part of it, is so special you long to wear it right there and then... and you will... but as with all things that God intends, each piece is intended for a specific purpose and His Armor is no different. He spells out what needs to be put on first -- and then leaves it to us to seek Him more to determine why each piece goes where it does.

I love the way He lays out - like an instruction manual - how that Armor is to be worn:

v.14: "Stand firm then..."

Picture yourself - you're standing in heaven's dressing room, the Armor is to your right and you have a couple of angels -- let's say Gabriel and Michael -- charged with dressing you... they've seen a few battles, they're regaling you with tales of stomping on the devil's head... but instead of feeling confident, you feel a bit morose... holy cow, you think to yourself, what have I gotten myself into... you start to wince a bit as they continue telling their stories, you start to shrink as they continue talking... your back bending bit by bit... and then a voice from a doorway booms so loud it shakes the very mountains to their knees... "Stand firm then!"... it's God, He gives you a wink and a smile... and there's something in that one moment -- that one command -- when you realize that this is a battle you're brave enough to fight... and He needs you to remember that... "Stand firm then my son/my daughter... I've got your back and we don't just toss Armor onto those who can't wear it... we're going to be right there with you, we've been there, we've done it, and we WILL succeed" is what He is saying... And so you do, you stand a little taller, toss a few laughs in the direction of Gabriel telling you how he took down the spirit of depression and anxiety and you take that belt of truth from Michael's hand....

v. 14: "with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."

No sooner has that buckle clicked than you realize exactly WHY that belt is the first piece of the Armor -- because the belt of truth is Jesus Christ... it is the one piece of the Armor that holds every other part together... it is made of gold as white as a million lambs to symbolize the purity and sinless character of Heaven's greatest warrior, and of rubies to symbolize the blood He shed on Calvary for the sin's of all mankind... into the belt are inscribed the following words:
John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

Way. Truth. Life.

You wear the belt because it not only holds your Armor together but also because it is the guiding compass toward God's ultimate prize: eternal life and rest with Him. With the belt around your waist, you can measure everything that comes your way - in ANY BATTLE - against what you know to be TRUE through Christ... let's think about a few examples....

The enemy tells you that you're all alone and that nobody cares -- that he's got you cornered and you're about to be defeated? The Belt of Truth - through Deuteronomy 31:6 - tells you something else: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Or in other words, shut your mouth satan... cause my re-enforcements are about to kick you and your discouragement into the lake of sulphur.

Consider what the Belt of Truth reminds you of... The Battle is wearing and you think it will never end... you're too tired to go on? 1 Peter 4:12-14: "... do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you". How awesome is that -- "... the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you..." -- and here you just thought you were getting pummeled for nothing... once you remember this, once you look at the example of a Christ who suffered every sling, arrow, whip, humiliation that mankind and the enemy could throw His way, how can you not help but be inspired to continue going on? Jesus had to battle and it was not until He had realized the ultimate purpose God had for Him -- death on the Cross, salvation of man -- that His work was done... (John 19:30). So every struggle you are in, every battle, every moment is but part of the grand work God has planned for you... seize that truth and move - like a lion - in that direction: Hebrews 12:1-2: "... and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".

The enemy telling you that you're no good? Perhaps you believe it... maybe you've said it to yourself a few times as well, or your family has, or your peers have... whatever the case might be... you are good... and what's more, you're even better BECAUSE of what Christ did for you on the Cross... so you don't need to listen to the discouragement of a fallen angel or of an angry boss or a critical parent, you need to tap that Belt of Truth and remember 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!". God doesn't - and never did - create garbage. You are not garbage, nor are you worthless or useless... A great trick of the enemy is to prey on our view of ourselves to beat us down and to defeat us... but remember, you are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and last time I checked, the image of God was not a piece of rubbish to be discarded, insulted and demeaned. Pick yourselves up and recognize the truth: God made you, adores you and has a purpose for you. Why else would He send His Son - the Living Belt of Truth - for you?

The great thing about the Belt of Truth is its versatility. You can - and must wear it - when you put on the Armor of God, but you can also wear it with any outfit you have. Pair of jeans? Top it off with the Belt of Truth. That plaid skirt in the back of your closet? Spice it up with the Belt of Truth. Bathing suit? Belt of Truth would look great on it too! Christ IS the Belt of Truth. You can measure every lie, every insult, every wound you have against the eternal truth and promise of Christ dying on the Cross to find your strength to keep going in your battle and in this life.

Cheating spouse? Tap the Belt of Truth. Cancer-stricken body? Belt of Truth has something there for you too. No money but mounting bills? The faith that comes from wearing this Belt will feed you long after the cupboards and wallet have gone bare.

Take heart my fellow warriors... that Belt of Truth has been the anchor for many Christians before you, and will be for many after you... but it must be worn, and worn with pride. Pick yours up and wear it.

The Belt of Truth -- the love, sacrifice and example of Christ -- never goes out of style.
Next up... breastplate of righteousness....

Visualizing the Armor

Ephesians 6:10-12: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your 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".

What's your routine when you get up in the morning? Do you stumble out of bed, rub those sleep-filled eyes, shower, eat your breakfast and then get to work in just enough time to make that morning staff meeting you'd rather avoid? In your morning routine, I'm sure, you have a certain pattern -- maybe you start with brushing your teeth before moving onto shaving, showering or getting dressed... or maybe you get dressed, then shave and then brush your teeth... but when you suit up for a day at the office, are you preparing yourself with the spiritual armor that you need to get through your day? Or are you content to just go through your day with the very clothes on your back and leave it to God to make sure He has your back if anything challenging comes your way?

Up until a couple months ago, I was definitely the latter. I'd wake up, get ready for my day, eat my breakfast with a 10 second prayer thrown in for good measure, and then head out for another day at the office. Now, however, I make it my routine to add another more important layer to my daily uniform.

The Armor of God.

Over the course of the next six entries, I am going to outline for you how each element of the Armor of God should be utilized to the benefit of your spiritual battle. From the Belt of Truth to the Helmet of Salvation, we'll go through them together, suit up and get ready to rock and roll the enemy and his minions.

But before we get to examine the uniform, let's break down what the Bible says in the introduction to the pieces of the Armor of God:

v.10: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power".

Be "strong in the Lord and His mighty power". What a great line -- but, if you're like me, you need help in visualizing what that looks like. Strength is easy in the human form -- it normally, physically at least, takes the form of muscles, agility and speed. But in its heavenly form, what exactly does the "strength of God" look like?

Visualizing the strength of God is a hard thing to do -- afterall, when you can not see God or touch God in the same tangible way that you can other things, learning to visualize, depend and grasp onto His strength is bound to be a difficult thing to do.

But I think that is precisely why God describes His strength as being an "armor":

v.11: "Put on the full armor of God...".

Picture it with me, won't you?

It's there just outside God's throne room, against the wall of heaven's largest mansion -- the Mansion of God, Yahweh, the Great I Am. It looks at once like the lightest and strongest armor imaginable. It radiates a light that could eclipse a thousand suns and yet sparkles with the intensity of an infinite number of stars. Worn in millions of battles with the enemy by scores of Christians, martyrs and others since Creation, yet not a single dent or tear in it. Engraved with every word of Scripture and the promise of eternal life, it is all at once the most perfectly flawless uniform made to be worn by God's most special, if flawed, creations: man and woman. Built by God himself it stands ready to be given to any of His earthly warriors -- His children -- who ask for it.

When you take a moment to visualize that armor, aren't you eager to put it on? Can't you see its strength and don't you desire to feel it?

Then why not wear it -- and why not dress yourself in it, daily, just as readily as you do the very clothes on your back. You may not be able to see it with your eyes, but I promise you, it's on you as soon as you ask for it.

It is God's own armor, provided from His heavenly barracks for His earthly children, to be used not just when we face trials, but daily so that we are prepared for any sort of warfare that the enemy may launch our way. God wants us suited up for anything satan (and I use lower-case purposely) catapults our way. Afterall, isn't that what He makes abundantly clear in the rest of verse 11?:

v. 11: "... so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes"?

What schemes, you may be asking yourself? I'm just a simple office drone or construction worker or retail clerk... friends, you're exactly what satan wants to trip up... maybe it's the incessant demands of an impatient boss... you swear to yourself if they say one more thing, you're going to lose it -- and maybe your job in the process... maybe it's endless fighting with your husband and a very friendly co-worker at work who says he understands and why don't you get together over drinks and talk about it?... or maybe it's using that paycheque not to pay bills but to try your luck at the casino... maybe it's that extra drink before you get behind the wheel of a car... whatever it is, you had better realize that you fit perfectly into the devil's desire to seek and destroy:

1 Peter 5:8: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour".

For the devil, you're an easy mark, an irritance that he'd love nothing more than to destroy... and how easy it is to do if you are not prepared for battle. No matter how nice you are or how innocent you look, you are in satan's line of fire and he'd love nothing more than to pummel you with bullets.

As verse 12 reminds us:

"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".

And the battle is a tough one -- consider this reminder from Daniel about the strength and tenacity of the enemy:

Daniel 10:12-13: "Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia".

That was spoken to Daniel by an angel -- an angel basically saying, I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner to help you out but I was in one heck of a battle with beelzebub that lasted for 3 weeks and which I needed re-inforcements to help me out with.

So if an angel - one of the toughest guys this side of heaven - has this much trouble with the enemy, why would we think we are immune enough from satan's arrows to walk on our own?

Your battle may begin and end quickly. It may last a long time. Whatever it is, if you're wearing the armor, you've got God and the armies of heaven working with you. And that beats that suit and tie you were planning on wearing today!

Just because you can't see the battle with your eyes doesn't mean it isn't going on around you. Indeed, that is very clear in verse 12 -- the battle is SPIRITUAL! It may manifest itself in other ways but it begins and ends in the spiritual realm. Arm yourself.

Friends, that armor is in the hallway -- and the battlefield is strewn with men and women who chose the blue tie or the pink dress over the inpenetrable armor of the King of Kings.

Do yourself a favor -- ask God to suit you up tomorrow morning. Pray Ephesians 6:10-20 over yourself. And then do it at least once more throughout the day -- like every armor, it may shift a bit during battle, so make sure you're always wearing it the way you should be. You'll be glad you did. And unlike most armors, it isn't heavy to wear - but light! (Matthew 11:30).

Next we'll take a look at the belt of truth.... in the meantime, here's some music to dress to:



Battle on!

My First Series: The Armor of God

Starting on Easter Monday I am going to begin this blog's first series: The Armor of God.

As you know, I believe that I have been caught for awhile in a bit of spiritual warfare and one of the things I have said consistently to myself and others is that I wish that someone had given me a bit of a manual so that I knew how to fight back. I know that we have the Bible -- the written, living, Word of God. But at the same time, I wanted some sort of road map to inform me how to wield the weapons outlined in Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Armor of God is a powerful - in fact, the MOST powerful - thing we can cloak ourselves in next to the blood of Christ. The Armor is effective not only in spiritual warfare but also in our day-to-day lives. However, sometimes, it's difficult to know what each piece is for and how we can be using it in our walk with God and in both the challenges and opportunities we face.

I don't claim to have all the answers but I do believe that God uses our experiences to speak hope, encouragement and direction into the lives of others while at the same using those very same experiences to teach us something special about the plans He has for our own lives.

I hope you'll join me for the journey. I'm looking forward to it.

It starts, here, on Easter Monday.