THE ARMOR OF GOD INTENDED AS DAILY DRESS CODE FOR BELIEVERS

I’ve opted to delay the post I was going to write for today. I turn our attention instead to Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verses 11 to 18, in the King James Version of the Scriptures:

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. . . .

In putting on the whole armor of God, we dress in the girding of TRUTH, the BREASTPLATE of righteousness, having our feet shod with the GOSPEL OF PEACE, and take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Let’s not forget the item of armor that is offered ‘above all’–the SHIELD OF FAITH. In Christian circles, this is an essential dress code for God-fearing believers. It is not a preference, this ‘armor of God’ is a fundamental belief, passed down since early Bible times. This is to be our daily ‘dress’.

My readers, the shield of faith is offered as being ‘above all else’. What if that shield was for the face? To keep unGODly statements from getting out from your mouth. And to keep unGODly things from entering your body. Not dissimilar to the use of facemasks or face shields to prevent the spread of disease if you will allow me to make that comparison. Depending on your pandemic point of view, the mask can symbolize an erosion of personal freedoms or a willingness to protect others, a society that accepts tyranny or one that embraces science. A person’s reaction to a mask — or the absence of one — can be driven by an entire network of beliefs and emotions that have little to do with the face covering itself. For people today, it’s not really about being asked to wear a mask for an hour. It’s about communicating which side you’re on.

Exactly.

Long before the pandemic befell us, the Lord admonished believers to put on the WHOLE ARMOR–and the SHIELD of Faith ‘above all’. Clothed thusly, believers ‘may be able to withstand in the evil day. . . may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked’. The Lord isn’t asking you to put on the armor of God when you prefer to. He’s recommending the Armor of God for daily use. Living each day in this manner IS going to communicate which side you’re on in the battle between Good and Evil, Christ and Satan.

I know which side I wish to be on. It’s not a preference for me, it’s a Fundamental Belief in the Word of God. — FM