Meditations: Full Armor of God--Why do we need it?

Ephesians 6:10-18

Over the years, many of us have heard reference to the "Full Armor of God" and the Bible as the "sword."  My favorite reference is the T-shirt that says, "Don't Fight Naked," on the front in bright pink letters.  The back says, "Put on the full armor of God," with a knobby-kneed cartoon character wearing nothing but the "armor."

Funny, but what's the point?  I don't fight battles that require big pieces of metal to protect my body EVER, let alone on a daily basis.  As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure the average person in Ephesus, when Paul wrote this letter, didn't fight battles like that either.  So, what in the world was Paul talking about, and why is it still so important that you can get a T-shirt reminding you not to fight naked?

Paul gives us a rather surprising (and sometimes difficult to swallow) answer in Ephesians 6:10-13.  He calls us to be strong in the Power of the Lord and he assures us that, at the end of the whole fight, we'll still be standing.  So far, so good.  After all, I already know that "God is God, and I am not," so recognizing that any strength I need has to come from the Lord is kind of a given.  Add on top of that, the assurance that I'm on the winning team, and I'm suiting up!  Except...What battle?

I'll admit I'm good with the goofy shirt, after all, that knobby-kneed fellow reminds me of my dad, and believe me, I have no desire to see my dad naked!  However, I'm not sure how armor is going to help me when I battle my son about doing his homework or my dear hubby about finances.

This is where goofy T-shirts drop the ball.  Looking again at Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul spells it all out.  "Our fight is not against people on earth."  Paul is not talking about a physical set of armor.  He's talking about a spiritual set designed to protect us from "the devil's evil tricks."  You see, contrary to popular opinion, we are not the only intelligent beings that God created.  There is a whole spiritual realm that influences our temporal realm.  We've seen reference to this in the form of angels and, another thing that people want to turn a blind eye to, demons (the devil's minions).

The devil and his minions are where the armor comes into play.  God has created an eternal-life saving suit for each of us.  Each piece is designed to thwart the enemy's attacks and bring us through the battle to the final victory, eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Next Week: Full Armor of God--The Belt of Truth