Stand

Eph 6:13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." NKJV

We have a formidable enemy. He is out to steal and kill and destroy. This is not a picnic. This is war. All we have to do is look around and we can see destruction. Destruction in culture, destruction in society, destruction in leadership, destruction in business, destruction in government, destruction in families, destruction in individual lives. Really, if you do not have something more powerful than your own smarts and energy, you are doomed. We can't fight this battle in our own strength...we need something more, and that something more is the whole armor of God.

I love Paul's emphasis on taking up the whole armor of God. He didn't want the church at Ephesis to fall because they failed to protect their heads because they didn't put their helmet on, he wanted them to cover themselves in God's complete armor, in God's protection, in God's security. Why? So they and we can withstand in the evil day.

I don't know about you, but I sure see an evil day. I don't want to sound like a negative Nancy, but when I see what is going on in our world, I just don't see it getting better. In fact, the Bible said that things were going to progress from bad to worse. Not real encouraging. But the cool thing is that God has given us the tools to withstand. To withstand means to resist. It means to oppose. It is not a wimpy "Oh no, what are we going to do?" It is a force. And then when have done everything we can, we will stand. We will be fixed. We will not move. We will be established.

I think that this is something that the church needs to hear right now. It is something all believers need to hear as we watch our world. We have to be ready for what is going to come. And how do we get ready? Take up every piece of God's armor: truth, and righteousness, and the Gospel of peace, and faith, and salvation, and the Word of God, and prayer. Every piece is vital. Every piece is needed. Every piece protects and defends. And one piece is an offensive weapon...the Word of God. Each piece needs to be firmly in place in my life so that I can withstand and finally stand firm. No moving. No wavering. No compromising. No wimping out. Stand firm.

These were Paul's final words to the Ephesian church. This is what he wanted them to grasp. It is what I have to grab and hold on to. A life of truth, righteousness, the Good News of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God and prayer. Take it all up. Live it. Walk it. Every day. Stand.