by J. A. Davidson (Northern Ireland)
We have mentioned that Paul took illustrations from city life and from country life. He could see lessons from the Building and the Body and now from Army life, we too can learn lessons from the Battle.
Paul lived in the times of the imperial might of the Roman Empire and he moved in colonies subdued by the conquering forces of the Roman Legions. In later years he spent years in prison, sometimes chained to a soldier. He was arrested in the Temple, held in the barracks, imprisoned for two years at Caesarea and then conveyed as a captive on the long voyage to Rome. In prison at Rome he was in the custody of the elite Praetorian Guard. As constantly he watched the changing of the guard and he was in daily contact with Caesar’s household, he learned about army life. To the Colossians, he requested that they remember his bonds and to the Ephesians he wrote as an ambassador in bonds. Even before imprisonment, writing from Corinth to the Romans he spoke of "the armour of light," Rom.13.12, as sentinels changed guard before dawn. Also from Corinth, the seat of local government and a strategic military garrison, he wrote to the Thessalonians exhorting them to put on "the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation," 1Thess.5.8. When the war was almost over, contemplating the final victory to Timothy from prison, he could rejoice and say "I have fought a good fight," 2Tim.4.7
From Paul’s writings we learn that we are in the army and from experience we are constantly reminded that we are in active service on the battlefield. "That he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier," 2Tim.2.4. We are not chosen to flowery beds of ease and whether we like it or not, after salvation we soon became aware of a three pronged attack by the world, the flesh and the devil. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," 2Tim.2.3. We are not just regimental showpieces to be admired by men. We are in the thick of a conflict with the powers of darkness, where the enemy is working an all out offensive upon marriage, family life and assembly testimony. He knows that his time is short, his tactics are to take no prisoners, his terms are unconditional surrender and all too often he has the victory. On the contrary we should be on the offensive to the pulling down of strongholds and driving the enemy from the field so that all that is adverse to the prosperity of the believer is held in the positive power of the heritage of God. The reader may at times feel almost overwhelmed but God is engaged for us, His power, protection and promises are at our disposal. Why go a warfaring at our own charges? You may feel that everything is against you but really they do not count. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us," Rom.8.31,37.
"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," Eph.6.10-11. Without armour and ammunition, the soldier would be defenceless against a hostile foe who is accomplished in stratagem. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand," Eph.6.13. This is no light skirmish. Can we hold the ground which we inherited or are we losing ground? Having subdued our passions and lusts we are to stand firm, stand upright, not lazy, not leaning upon the arm of flesh, not looking back in retreat. This stand will not be taken by the luxurious man, the lewd man or the lover of money.
Six items of armour are listed, which are not ours by position or rank, but are practical Christian graces essential for every believer in the conflict with self and sin.
i. THE BELT. "Having your loins girt about with truth," Eph.6.14. This strong leather girding apparatus, covered with metal plates fastened firmly around the loins. Put on first, it was to the soldier as it is to the believer, essential for safety, for support and for standing firm. The true, sincere man with nothing false, has nothing for the devil to work on. Elijah was hated but admired by the wicked Ahab.
ii. THE BREASTPLATE. "Having on the breastplate of righteousness," Eph.6.14. Covering the breast and the bent of the affections, this is not just standing but state. This is practical righteousness in our conduct before the eyes of the ungodly. Don’t leave anything exposed to the arrows of the enemy. Abraham was righteous and princely in his conduct before the Canaanites.
iii. THE FOOTWEAR. "Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," Eph.6.15. Proper footwear is essential if we are to be able to stand. This is not so much marching with the Gospel but standing resolute in the face of attack. Paul speaks of the Gospel, "Which I preached upon you, which ye also received, and wherein ye stand," 1Cor.15.1. This is the enjoyment and confidence of that quiet peace which we obtained when God saved us and which the devil wants to disturb. Said the dying saint, "I have great pain but I have great peace."
iv. THE SHIELD. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked," Eph.6.16. The reference is to the large Roman shield which protected the whole body. The Lord prayed for Peter when he was under attack from the fiery darts of Satan, that his faith fail not. The shield of faith covers any deficiencies or weak points in the other parts of the armour. When we are under siege and the arrows of the wicked one, charged with combustible materials, seek to ignite a conflagration of doubt and anxiety, can we say like Job, "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him?"
v. THE HELMET. "And take the helmet of salvation," Eph.6.17. This is not only initial salvation but that cheerful, courageous, conscious assurance of mind that God will deliver in any given circumstance. God is our Deliverer past, present and future. When the war is over, we are assured of victory. This sustains us in the heat of the battle. In the midst of no small tempest, Paul could say, "I believe God," Acts 27.25.
vi. THE SWORD. "The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God," Eph.6.17. In the conflict with sin, self and Satan, we can go on the offensive and make marks with the sharp edge of the Word of God. We need to study its truth if we are to be skilful in its use. This is illustrated in how the Lord used the Word of God to defeat the devil when tempted in the wilderness. It is to be noted that the most characteristic weapon of the Roman soldier, the great pilumar or pike, is omitted. We are engaged in hand to hand, face to face conflict with relentless foes. It is a life or death battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.
To wage a successful campaign, it is necessary to define, locate and pin down the enemy before we can launch the attack. Too often there is conflict in the assembly which is only mutiny in the ranks. Such will not be the case if there is a united front against the common foe. Paul warned against a three pronged attack:-
i) "The wiles of the devil," Eph.6.11. Still as subtle as he was in Genesis, the devil is seen in Ephesians as the one who seeks to upset our communion in the heavenlies. In World War 2, the enemy set clearly defined battle fronts and it was necessary to muster superior forces to defeat him. Presently terrorist activities can take the most elite army by surprise and even superior powers have little answer to subversive activists. The devil is a master at disguise and deception. He does not need to declare open warfare when he can be so successful in subversive activity.
ii) "The affairs of this life," 2Tim.2.4. The pressure and stress of the modern materialistic age and the quest for non essential luxury can so entangle and hamper God’s people as to leave them of little use in the extension of God’s Kingdom. When Britain was at war, the people lived on wartime rations. Paul exhorted self-denial as necessary, "for the present distress," 1Cor.7.26.
iii) "Make not provision for the flesh," Rom.13.14. When we have subdued every other foe we find that the greatest enemy is self. The conflict with the desires of the flesh is no light skirmish but a continual campaign of vigilance. When the sentry falls asleep, the whole camp is endangered. We are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.
"The evil day," Eph.6.13. We must always be on guard against a surprise attack by the enemy. However, more often it is a prolonged war by which the enemy wears down our defences. Paul exhorts Timothy to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," 2Tim.2.3. The soldier requires patient endurance to hold on; clear separation from interests not compatible with the achievement of victory and earnest desire above all, to please the Commander "who hath chosen him to be a soldier," 2Tim.2.4. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds," 2Cor.10.4. The conflict is not all defensive. This is the counter attack and just like the Romans taking the rock forts along the coastline or throwing down the high tower of the enemy fortress, there is still much enemy territory to be brought under subjection. "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ," 2Cor.10.5. Some at Corinth had high thoughts, theories, imaginations and learning and were looking down on Paul and his teaching. These high eminences of pride are to be attacked, overthrown, demolished and made prisoner. We are to bring into subjection anything in our thoughts, not in keeping with the authority of Christ in doctrine, conduct and service.
"Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep," Rom.13.11. Paul may have watched the guards in the long night watches, grow careless and weary, perhaps some even had a tendency to slumber. He would have us to be alert, ready for inspection, "the day is at hand," Rom.13.12.
"Thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ," 2Cor.2.14. Through Christ, victory is assured. "Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it," Col.2.15. After conquest, the victorious army would parade with the spoils of battle, the fragrance of triumph, the acclaim of the people, to receive the freedom of the city.
Through the victory of the cross, He has lead captivity captive and already we ride in the chariot of triumph with Christ. Rejoice, dear saint, that the battles will soon be over. The fragrance of victory and the acclaim of the people is to the Captain of our salvation. We join the divisions of the Redeemed, unfurl the blood stained banner of the cross and soon at the last trump, the camp will move out. "Everyone in his own order (division): Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming," 1Cor.15.23.
—to be continued (D.V.)