Slave, son, long-distance runner, farmer, wrestler—these are all images God uses in the New Testament to represent the identity and activities of the Christian life. One image that hasn’t yet been mentioned is the one Ephesians 6:10-18 famously presents. A Christian is a soldier equipped with armor. The armor, of course, is meant to be practical, not ornamental. Battles are coming.
In Ephesians 6:10 Paul gives a name to the battle that the Spirit knows Christians will have to fight. He calls it “the evil day.” While intense personal temptation might be a component of what makes this day so evil, this is not the scenario Paul has in mind. We know this because Scripture elsewhere tells us that the primary enemy in personal temptation is the flesh. The enemy in Ephesians 6, though, is not the flesh. It is the devil and his cunning wiles. Further, verse 12 informs us that the battle is much bigger than our own mind and body. Rather, the enemy is organized into principalities, and there are rulers (and therefore servants) of darkness. “Spiritual wickedness in high places” implies hierarchy and broad spiritual influence. It is easy to look at the cultural suicide of America and Europe and see spiritual wickedness influencing decision makers at high levels, as verse 12 describes. It is increasingly obvious which cultural institutions, influencers, and civil leaders are the servants of principalities and “the rulers of the darkness of this world.”
While the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan is of sweeping scope, it is also a conflict we can be individually engaged in. In fact, we will either win or lose. Verse 12 uses the word “wrestle.” Originally, this type of one-on-one conflict ended when the victor had his hand on the neck of the loser. This word would have a slightly different connotation the analogy of military warfare, but the close-up nature of the fight is the same. In a hand-to-hand combat match in the middle of a battle, one combatant was going to die. We are both corporately and individually opposed by spiritual evil that we will either defeat or be defeated by.
In the face of this spiritual opposition, God’s command to believers is to stand (vv. 11, 13, 14) and withstand (v. 13). There are several reasons this is the command the Lord gives us. First, and most obviously, when the days get evil it is easy to fold. Some may say that the darkness of the times make Christian resistance pointless—“things are too far gone” or “the world is only going to get worse anyway.” Some might distract themselves with comfort, entertainment, or nostalgia, focusing on a world other than this one. They remain purposely ignorant of the threat that evil is to Christian influence and institutions. Others might look for a way to delay the battle, offering compromise for the sake of “testimony before the world.” Many will redefine the nature of the battle, saying that it’s not the job of Christians to get involved, even in clear matters of truth and error, or when the world is making real inroads in areas of previously Christian influence. However, Ephesians 6 still calls believers to stand and not give ground. Regardless of the reasons we could offer, the command remains.
The second reason God can command believers to stand is because the Lord has sufficiently prepared us not only for protection, but also for victory. Paul specially emphasizes our preparation when discussing the part of the armor of most direct help in standing: the shoes. Verse 15 says that we are equipped with the gospel of peace that prepares our feet to move—or not to move—as the Lord directs. We have truth for a belt, righteousness in Christ as a breastplate, God’s promises of heavenly and earthly salvation as a helmet, and the full confidence in His character as a shield. We have His Word and prayer, both weapons that can be wielded as often as we care to use them. Remember, though, that the armor’s intended purpose is to prepare us for the spiritual fight. God does not give us the sure truth of His armor for our mental wellbeing or emotional stability, but so we can be properly engaged as soldiers. To be given the armor means that running away is not an option. Evil will press for an advantage whether individual Christians stand or not. And conversely, the kingdom of Christ will ultimately advance whether or not individual believers use their armor effectively.
The final reason God can command believers to stand is because the stakes are real. Men have families that either will or will not be conquered by evil. Churches will either grow or wither. Citizens of our area will either live in Christ or die without Him. Of course it is the Spirit, not us, that changes hearts. However, the obedience that God can bless is very clear: we stand.
The above article was written by Jonathan Kyser. He is a pastoral assistant at NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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