Ladies, as little girls, remember the times Mother
would have to let down the hem of our dresses, or, when we were
given a garment that our sister had outgrown and we tried it on
to see if it was the right size for us? When our things no longer
fit, they were passed along to a younger sister, cousin, or friend.
Brings back memories, does it not? Our mothers were very resourceful
as they made our clothes fit.
Now, thinking of how something fits, let us look
at the boy, David (1 Samuel 17), as he tried on Saul's armor,
getting ready to fight Goliath. Picture David - ready for battle
- clad in things way too big for his boyish frame. The helmet
must have engulfed his whole head and the other armor parts certainly
did not fit. 1 Samuel 9:2 tells us Saul was a very tall man.
All that we have talked about is of a physical
nature: real garments from our childhood, real armor a warrior
wears into battle. However, let us go to the sixth chapter of
Ephesians as we array ourselves in spiritual armor.
Sisters, we are soldiers, fighting in a war against
Satan! Verse 11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Verse 13
says, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that
ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand."
As we are putting on our Christian armor, verses
14 through 17, getting ready to go into battle, let us ask ourselves
some questions. Will our armor fit? Does it need any alterations?
Will we be able to overcome the enemy? Will we be victorious?
Satan takes pleasure in thinking our battle dress
does not fit properly. Parts may be missing, or it may even be
broken. He delights when he learns we are not equipped to fight
against him. We have placed our helmet on, but do we really want
the protection it brings? How important is our salvation to us?
As our feet take us into battle, are we taking the gospel with
us? As Satan attacks our heart, is it protected with our breastplate
of righteousness?
Jesus told us in His sermon on the mount (Matthew
5:6) to hunger and thirst after righteousness. When we do that,
our armor gives us the protection God intended it to. Is there
ever a time we feel the loin section of our armor is too tight?
Maybe we can loosen it some, just a tiny bit because the truth
that we once felt so strong about is not popular today. Will it
matter if it is not belted as it should be? Is our shield being
carried so that the darts of sin hurled at us cannot pierce our
faith? Is our shield (faith) too small to protect us? Is our sword
sharpened (2 Timothy 2:15) to the point that God's Word brings
about a victory?
Just as David could not wear Saul's armor because
it did not fit him, we cannot wear the armor of the world because
it will not fit on a Christian. 1 John 2:15-16. "Love not
the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world." Rt. 2 Box 177, Belington, WV 26250. mrmrsl@meer.net