En Garde – Prepare for the Coming Battle

Ephesians 6:10-12

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

The beginning of each new year re-awakens our desire to get back into physical shape. For many, “shape” is merely a fuzzy objective too easily aimed for but missed by a mile! That is, unless your definition of “shape” takes on a more geometric significance. For example, a circle is a shape. And, until the Christmas cookies run out, I am gradually approaching spherical perfection. “Look, Honey! I’m in shape!”

The fitness industry in the U.S. generates over $ 30 billion annually. From mega-gyms to Mom-and-Pop brick and mortars, each town of our morbidly obese nation is dotted with these exercise factories. There is, however, a trend of virtual exercising from home that might eventually hurt the industry’s bottom line. Nevertheless, for the time being, we pull on our Gucci sweats, fill our Yetis with oxygenated water, and drive our leased Beemers to the gym. Three or four trips a week in January slowly wane to once every other week by April. By August, we question why membership fees are still being deducted from our bank accounts! Our seasonal guilt from the holiday “glut” eventually fades from our memories. We settle back into our dietary “Quest for the Circle.” (Sounds like something Spielberg would direct.)

In this excerpt from Scripture, Paul wants the Ephesians to do two things. He tells them, and us, to first spiritually “pump up!” Start getting our “reps” in. Work on our “prayer cardio” to increase stamina. Journal our daily progress. Chart our growth. Put ourselves on a steady diet of His Word. It’s all-natural, gluten-free, has no additives, and it tastes “sweeter than honey.” Be advised. Paul warns us not to try to do it all by ourselves. Rely on the strength of the Lord. This whole endeavor is a team effort, folks. He tells us that by exercising daily, we will begin to put on significant muscle mass and get “bulked up” for impending combat. We are aiming to approach zero percent soul fat! We need to prepare for the coming battle.

The people from Ephesus couldn’t see their adversaries. They had no idea of where their cosmic opponents were. Big surprise! Neither can we! But if we could see these demonic forces, I promise you, we’d upgrade our membership to the “Platinum” level and never miss a “leg day” again! Paul doesn’t sugar-coat his message. He warns us all that we’re dealing with extraterrestrial powers, evil beings with authority over everything we can see in the natural world. No joke! These are serious adversaries! Kevlar! Titanium! Steel-plated armor offers no protection from their incessant salvos of lies and temptations. Their precision darts possess the latest weakness-seeking technology. Their attacks are not a matter of luck, but rather a matter of careful strategy. The enemy's arrows are always well-aimed and perfectly timed to deplete our ranks.

Before we start to put on the “whole armor of God,” we need to be righteously “ripped.” We have to grow stronger ourselves, as we simultaneously gain power from His strength. God’s protection doesn’t work too well if we’re emotionally feeble - if we refuse to exercise and look for a miracle pill after it’s too late! We need to develop noticeable definitions in those spiritual muscles before we can “suit up” and stand against the enemy’s schemes. The good news is that further on in His book, we read that “this present darkness” doesn’t last forever. But, for now, the battle rages on.

As Christians, we’ve enlisted in an army that opposes spiritual terrorism. We’ve signed up for the duration. There’s no “free trial for 30 days!” We have a lifetime membership. One day, when that expires, we’ll be introduced to some of the charter members. By the way, there’s also a friends and family promotion. It’s an ongoing campaign for a Christian affiliation.

We are the front-line soldiers and warriors of Jesus Christ. Stand proud and strong in His army of Saints. Keep fighting with strength and faith. Know full well that the battle is the Lord’s. When it’s over, we will be triumphant! We will stand victorious. I salute you all, dear readers! Thank you for your service!

I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the truth is... "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:10-12