Ephesians 6:16: "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one".
"Incoming!"
A distant cry rises up from the battlefield -- you raise a weary eye towards the heavens in time to see a flaming arrow coming your way... it's bee-lining straight for you... for your heart... for your mind... for your soul... you cower in fear... hands raised towards the sky in the hopes -- however in vain they may be -- that you can stop this one from making contact...
You've seen this arrow before haven't you?
- Flaming arrows of depression, a broken marriage, alcohol, lust or greed?
- Rocks of insults, shame, slander and anger?
- A sharp stick of inequities, surrounded by catcalls of indignities and reminders that "you're not good enough"
- A spear of hurt, past regrets, broken hearts, poverty, a failed job, a bad investment...
You cower at the thought of the arrow -- and yet, over and over again, you've allowed it to make contact, to push into you, opening up an old wound or, worse yet, breaking open another new one when you have yet to heal any of the other open sores you carry on your soul.
Let me ask you something: Aren't you tired of trying to fend these weapons off on your own? Isn’t it time you stepped behind something better than the feebleness of your own hands? Are you tired of letting the enemy get the upper hand with the same old tricks?
If you can answer yes to any of those questions, then my friend, you're ready to take up one of the most important weapons in the Armor of God: The Shield of Faith!
Can't you see it there... gleaming white gold, bejeweled in splendor, with a crown -- His Crown -- of majesty in the centre. It carries with it not only your protection, but the promise of better days. It's a shield that is glorious enough to light up our every celebration and strong enough that we can lean against it in every moment of angst or uncertainty.
That, in a nutshell, is what it means to have FAITH in Christ... and to use that Faith as our protection or guiding principle in every situation we face.
Oh but you worry -- what if He doesn't come through? How will I know that He is there? How can an unseen God possibly understand what I'm going through right now?
Friends, your faith tells you that that "unseen God" not only knows -- but feels -- for every moment that you are going through. He understands it better than you do, and His promise of comfort and protection is greater than you could ever comprehend.
How do I know this?
Because He's been there -- He's stood on that battlefield, He's weathered the arrows, the hurts -- and He's emerged VICTORIOUS:
Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:15: "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."
A general never rises to the top of the military if he has never experienced the fight. Point being, that God is the ultimate general -- the King of Kings and Lord of Lords -- He's fought every battle, He's beaten the scourge of death and it is faith in this God that you have the choice to hide behind when your times are toughest.
But it is -- ultimately -- your choice. You can choose to pick up the shield when you're face-to-face with your personal nightmare... you can choose to feel the weight lifted off your shoulders and onto God's when you lift that shield... Or, you can choose to leave the shield leaning against the wall and try to swat your way through life with your wits and your weak hands.
If you choose the latter, you may succeed in knocking a few arrows down, but you'll experience a lot more pain... and eventually you will lose.
Faith in God promises NOT that what we are going through will not hurt or be tough. Rather, God's Shield of Faith simply promises that it will "... extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one". Take it at face-value: a shield that will be impermeable to the enemy and to whatever other junk comes your way... or a shield of your own making, fleshly, worldly, temporal....
If you choose to get behind the Shield of Faith that God provides, you're choosing to get behind a God that will cloak you under the shadow of his wings to help you weather the storm. You're choosing to worry NOT about the next incoming arrow because you're opting to be safe behind an eternal shield that will see you through to victory. And with every successful "thunk", "thud", "bam" and "ping" of the Shield of Faith deflecting arrows from you in the midst of battle, your faith grows... allowing you to trust more, to fear less and to experience a rejoicing at every victory you experience with God, be it small or large.
Faith is about standing strong regardless of the battlefield, regardless of the challenge. Seizing opportunity by confidently pushing ahead knowing that God has both your back and your front. (Psalm 91:11-12).
But you have to want that victory -- you have to want to pick up that Shield not only when you are in battle, but each and every day... because you never know when an arrow may land.
I understand how tough it can be to just trust... to wait upon the Lord to lead you to victory... but true faith demands that we do just that... that when God hears the cry of our heart, He will answer... and we just have to have confidence that He will come through.
Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see".
I encourage you to take some time and read through Hebrews 11 and to see for yourself the examples of faith of others who have stood in battle before you. See for yourself how the might of God can deliver you through whatever trial you are facing. He will. He has. He always does.
Do yourself a favor -- quit swatting at arrows. They sting. They hurt. Your efforts will prove useless.
Instead, pick up the Shield of Faith that God is offering you -- it will get you through better than you can ever imagine and will leave a lot less scars.
