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. Ephesians 6.13
About two years ago the Lord led me to begin a study of the Christian armor.
Eventually, it led me to write the Branches series on the armor we completed
earlier this year. During that study I poured over the Greek text unearthing
many nuggets of truth. None of those nuggets made as strong an impact on my
life as one found in this scripture.
Those two little words "whole armor" come from a single word, Panoplia,
In the Greek, it literally means the entire range of personal armor. This may
not mean much to us coming from a modern culture. To understand how important
this word is we need to go back in time 2000 years. When we think of Roman
soldiers, we probably think about them wearing a helmet, breastplate, sword,
spear, shield, shoes and greaves. However, the common foot soldier was not so
well equipped. Those who were conscripted from the peasant or slave classes
might fight with no armor at all except a sword and possibly a shield. Those
somewhat better off might add the girdle, and a helmet. The better families
might add shoes and a breastplate. Only the best families sent forth their
sons into battle with the panoply, the full armor. Indeed, only the generals
and the son's of the Emperor went into battle totally armed.
What armament that was too. The helmet covered the head and neck. The
breastplate covered the back and chest, the girdle covered the loins and lower
abdomen, the greaves covered the shin bones, the shoes protected and gave
traction to the feet. The shield covered almost the entire body. The sword
could be used in close up fighting and a spear was handy for throwing the
enemy off his horse. The full armor was state of the art for the time. The
Roman soldier, fully equipped, was an awesome sight and a formidable foe.
But, only royalty could afford to be fully armed. What does God tell us in
this verse? "Take the full armor." Our heavenly father, the emperor over all
emperors, says "I will not have you go forth into battle unprotected. You are
much too important to me. You are my son, you are my daughter and you will
have the best I can give you to fight the enemy. So, come to my armory. Take
the helmet of salvation. Take my shield of faith. Look I have forged a sword
with is my word. And see this breastplate with my household insignia on it,
that's made from my righteousness. Here's a belt. It's the girdle of my truth.
As you walk over the rock strewn battlefield, protect your feet. Take my shoes
of the gospel of peace. Don't face the enemy of your soul unarmed. It's all
here waiting for you. Take it. Protect yourself for you are infinitely
valuable to me. And never forget it.