Armored Up. Battle Ready. When Our Head's in the Game, It Changes Everything.

I met with a dear friend yesterday and she challenged me in such a God ordained way. We quite literally had a conversation that covered the history of humanity, the tenets of Christianity, and why the world we live in daily tests our sanity.

And while evil is running rampant, God is still running the show. He is sovereign over all. He will have the final say. He has made a way, and He will continue to show us the way as we stay in His Word. There, he has laid it all out, from cover to cover. He tells us how to live, how to love, and how to treat one another.

As Rachel and I were journeying from Genesis to Revelation by way of conversation, we discussed hermeneutics, history, and theology. Cover to cover, we see God continually cover His people with His protection and His provision.

God’s expectations of His people, both in Bible times and for those who have been grafted into the vine, have not changed, and are in place to keep us safe.

Speaking of safety, the one thing my friend said to me that I had never really thought about (but now I can’t stop thinking about) is the way we view the Armor of God.

We’re taught that we must put it on everyday, much like a uniform at game time — suit up before we hit the field, or in this case, armor up before we hit the battlefield.

But the words Rachel spoke to me yesterday, made me view God’s safety and protection in a different way. When she hears Christians say “We have to put on the Armor of God every day,” her response is “Why do we ever take it off?”

For those who are in Christ, those pieces of God’s armor have been given to us at salvation. We put it on as a child of God because it has been given to us to protect us as a new creation — the old is gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17), and it comes fully armored up!

Ephesians 6:11-20 is Paul’s reminder to the church of Ephesus, and to us, that spiritual warfare is real and the armor we wear in God’s army protects us from head to toe. We are battle ready simply because we are His.

Everything we need to defeat the enemy has already been given to us. No need for add ons or upgrades, the original is fully fitted, and our part is to stay fully committed.

In fact, even the word choice and verb tense reminds us we put it on (v. 11) when we surrender our life to Christ, so we can stand firm and continue to fight the good fight of faith. We take it up (v. 13) upon salvation to wear and wield it well knowing God alone is our protection against evil.

And then there’s that verb tense, the present participle form of have — having — implying an ongoing, continual process…

having done everything…

having girded…

having put on…

having shod…

So, yes, we must put it on and take it up upon enlistment in the army of God, but the ongoing work of His power, provision, and protection stays with and covers us as we stay close to Him.

And then, as if to add a salute to the command to put it on, take it up, and continually pray, Paul says, “with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” (v.18)

When we know and are fully convinced of God’s provision, protection, and purpose for us, we can wear His armor well all the time, give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and be prepared in and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2)…

Head in the game (helmet of salvation)

Heart aflame (breastplate of righteousness)

Hands raised (shield of faith)

God’s Word drawn (sword of the Spirit)

His truth known (belt of truth)

Our feet on solid ground (shoes of the gospel of peace)

Because in Christ alone, we are found,

Standing firm

Having all we need

To fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will 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 arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:11-20, NASB)