Read: Numbers 25:1-2 & Ephesians 6:10-17
The other day I told a friend that I sometimes want to join a convent. It seems to me life would be simpler, and I’d be able to spend so much more time with God and doing his work. My friend’s response was to ask whether it was because I really felt I could do more good that way, or if I would just be running away from the difficult parts of “normal” life.
Good question.
For those of us living “in the world,” we must learn how to stay Christ-focused amidst “the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). It is a fight, and God’s people have struggled with it forever. Just look at Numbers 25, when the Israelites were seduced by the ways of the Moabites. We are up against the same temptations, deceptions and distractions today. Sometimes, it feels like it would be easier to run and hide than face the warfare.
God has provided everything we need to withstand the devil’s schemes. He gave us armor. While it would be easy to wear the armor of God like a shell to hide from the world, that’s not really the point. Armor wasn’t invented for ordinary people to hide from harm. It was invented for warriors. We put on armor to go into battle. Its job is to protect us from harm. It does this by strengthening us, covering our weak spots so we can withstand the attacks coming our way.
When we put on the armor of God, we are wearing His truth around our waists, his righteousness across our chests and salvation on our heads. Our feet are made ready by the gospel of peace. We are carrying the shield of faith, which extinguishes the flaming arrows of the enemy, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
When the enemy’s attacks make you want to hide, hold tight to that shield of faith and walk out bravely into the world, asking God to help you live so the world sees His truth, righteousness and salvation.
