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....
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....
You really sound like you're up for the battles ahead and I'm so glad to hear that. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting & sharing your insights. Didn't get to hear a teaching at church this weekend so I tapped in here instead. As I read your writing on the "Belt of Truth" I was struck with this 'truth' from some of the "fitness" training I am doing at the gym and it is this - I have to work to strengthen my "inner core muscles" these are the transverse abs as well as the connective muscle/tissue as these muscles are strengthened my entire body will respond and be supported by them - how great God is to display His spiritual truths in our physical bodies - the "Belt of Truth" lays centered in these muscle groups; in the same way our physical body is strengthened by 'inner core muscles' (ie: inner truth) so is our spirit. Thank you for posting & sharing. I can hardly wait for the next post!
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