The Whole Armour of God, Our Shield of Faith Part IV

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16

In ‘The Whole Armour of God,’ Parts I-III, we covered the belt, breastplate and footwear. We were instructed to ‘put on’ those items with the intent that we wear those every day. Our lives should be bound at our waist by the belt of truth; that is, the whole counsel of God as illumined to us through His word. The breastplate of Christ’s righteousness protects our heart and soul and is the guarantee of our assurance. As for our footwear, we prepare daily to stand and walk in the Gospel of peace. Our spiritual footwear in that Gospel of peace is reliable, stable, and mobile; wherein our footing is sure even as God is true, and His counsel and guidance sure. Thus, we are prepared to move and to meet an enemy that will come at us from every side.

Here, in this passage, we are to ‘take up’ the shield of faith. We need to keep in mind that the Apostle Paul speaks of our need to wear the whole armor of God, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  This battle is not a game. It is not X-box. It is real. Even as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are persons; real—not an idea or a concept; the Devil and the powers and principalities ‘of this dark earth’ are also persons; unseen beings… all created by God but in eternal rebellion.

Why do we take up the shield of faith? We do so to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. The actual shield that the Apostle Paul saw the centurions use was made of wood, about four foot in length and two and half feet wide. Although made of wood, it had a thin metal coating to deflect the flaming arrows (darts) that were hurled at them through the air. In the same manner, we need to raise the shield of faith when we are beset with a flurry of fiery darts, which are launched at us from every direction, but we must understand that it is the object of our faith that will or will not protect us, but our faith is in God, and He is able.  

Do you need proof that the Devil exists? Let me ask you this: Are all of the thoughts that you have truly your own? Aren’t you ever taken back when out of the blue such terrible, blasphemous thoughts of God cross your mind? How is it that you cannot read a verse of the Bible without your thoughts wandering? How about prayer, or listening to a sermon? You have no difficulty reading the sports page or another article of interest; and yet you say that you love God? How is this? Each and every day; some more than others, I confront this seemingly never-ending onslaught of attempted infiltrations by the evil one. You talk about computer virus’s! Living in the age that we live, don’t you find it curious that the Devil is also called the prince of the power of the air?

As for external trials, how is it that you can be rejoicing one moment and then face a tirade from someone you love the next? One moment they smile adoringly; the next they are accusing you of something that you did ten, twenty, forty years ago? How is it that when the washing machine breaks down, the next moment the television goes? If we know that we sinned against God (our consciences bearing witness to us), then we know that God chastens His children. “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Heb. 12:5,6) However, these trials are different. Yes, the Devil wants to remain anonymous, while accusing you! He wants to be the hacker, who will attempt to penetrate God’s treasure (you!) and upload his program of sin and shame, and that’s why we must take up the shield of faith.

The beauty and wonder of what we ‘put on,’ which involves our belt, breastplate and shoes, is that those are permanent! Praise God that in Christ Jesus we can have our loins girted with His truth; our hearts and souls protected by Christ’s righteousness, and shoes of the Gospel of peace that will ultimately carry us (even as the sandals worn by Israel which after forty years were not worn out) to heaven. However, we must also ‘take up,’ that shield of faith; trusting God for empowering us and taking us home. If not, and while we are yet saved by His grace, we will live terribly unhappy, defeated lives; slowed down by the malware of the Devil and his legions, until in fact we are cleansed through our Father’s chastening, and we confess our sin.

Take up your shield! And who is that shield? “After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Gen. 15:1)   May this vision be yours today also.