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PUTTING ON THE BELT OF TRUTH IN ENEMY-HELD TERRITORY!

It was probably the Christmas of 1947 or 1948 when my older brother discovered a new Schwinn bicycle standing beside our Christmas tree. That alone, of course, made it a great Christmas. Early that morning we took it outside and since it had a platform above the back fender I straddled the platform while my brother grabbed the handle bars, pushed the bike, put his left foot on the peddle, and as the bike coasted along swung his right leg up and over the bike. It was at that moment that I learned how dangerous this world could be for a dumb kid. For as he swung his leg up and over he knocked me flat on the ground.

In the Spring of the following year, as I remember it, I was standing behind him when he picked up a huge boulder to stone a centipede. Putting all his might into this act of stoning he drew back his right hand and immediately clobbered me in the head. To this day I still have the scar on my forehead to remind me that the only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn anything from history. At least, we don’t learn anything the first time around.

The bicycle incident should have taught me that hanging out with my brother was going to get me killed. But since that lesson didn’t sink in at the time, the Lord allowed him to clobber me with a boulder. It was at that moment that I realized I needed to be more cautious in this dangerous world in which I found myself or else I was going to suffer greatly.

While my brother unintentionally beat me up, at least I think it was unintentional, I discovered in elementary school that some kids just didn’t have a sense of humor. I would tease them throughout the day and by the end of the day I discovered that they weren’t laughing. In fact, they were wanting to meet me after school to continue my education.

And, they would have continued it except for the fact that a kid by the name of Jimmy Elsner took it upon himself to be my bodyguard. Again and again, he stepped in and saved my blood from being spilled out on the playground of Washington Elementary School in Prescott.

But, without consulting me, without even sharing their plans with me, his family moved during the summer between 6th grade and junior high school. In the absence of a full-time bodyguard, I quickly learned to lay low and mind my own business. But for the next four years, until I was a sophomore in high school, I lived in fear of being beat up not only by the pachucos, who hung out near the plaza in Prescott, and who I steered clear of, but by all those students who seemed to have no sense of humor.

Then, during my sophomore year, I realized that if I ever got into a fight I couldn’t lose. I knew that no matter what happened to me, it would be a win-win situation. If I was pounded into the ground, the girls would feel sorry for me and cuddle me. If, by some miracle, I won, then I would be a conquering hero and all the girls would throw kisses my way.

You see, when were up against flesh and blood we can pretty well figure out how to handle ourselves. We may get bruised and beat up along the way, we may learn a number of lessons the hard way, but we are all capable of figuring out what we need to do to survive. Whether it involves a bodyguard, laying low, or looking at life philosophically you and I are inventive enough to handle whatever others throw at us.

But, our real problem is not with flesh and blood. If it were, Paul would not admonish us to put on the full armor of God. No, in comparison to the school yard bullies of yesteryear, the foe of all mankind is far sneaker, far meaner, far more organized, far more determined, and certainly more powerful than any bully that has ever pushed us around. After all, his goal is not simply to harm us. His goal is to steal all we have, to destroy us in every which way, and, if possible, to kill us.

It is as if you and I have been thrown into the ring with a heavyweight boxer who is all about taking care of business. By the third round we have been so thoroughly beaten & battered that we return to our corner ready to throw in the towel. We tell our trainer that we can’t take any more, that we have been so clobbered that even our close friends wouldn’t be able to recognize the real us.
Our trainer runs a wet sponge over our face and proceeds to tell us that the guy hasn’t even laid a glove on us. He assures us that we’re winning and that the next round will be ours for the taking. It is at that point that we turn to him and say, “If that’s the case, if what you are saying is true, then you had better keep your eyes on the referee because somebody is killing me.”
It is for this reason, because somebody other than the school yard bully is in the ring with us, that Paul said to the Ephesian believers, and says to us:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

This passage spells out the reality that Satan is the prince of the power of darkness. He is the ruler and god of this world. He has set up his reign on Terra Firma and claims squatter rights. All those born on this planet, whether they know it or not, are born within enemy territory and as far as our adversary is concerned we all belong to him. As we grow toward manhood he seduces us into thinking that he nor God exist. He blinds us to the realities of this world while quietly and persistently encouraging us to sin against God in every way imaginable. And when he is finished using us and abusing us, he has no qualms about killing us. For he is more ruthless than the most ruthless of all crime bosses.

Furthermore, he is smart enough to know that if someone wants to grab everything within their reach, if they want to hold on to it, if they want to squeeze it for all it is worth, they are going to have to be well organized. To this end, he has organized the fallen angels, the demons, into various ranks. And, where appropriate, he has invested them with the authority needed to do his bidding.
He knows, better than you or me, that this is no game. He knows that Terra Firma is not a playground, it is a battleground. This war in the heavenly realms that he has declared against God is not something that he dapples at from time to time. He is all about business, and his business is to defeat God and God’s purposes for this world. In large part, that means sidelining, possibly even crushing, God’s people.

It is interesting to note that the Greek word translated “struggle” is literally the word for “wrestling.” Paul, of course, is not referring to the world of Smackdown Pro-wrestling where The Big Show and A-Train put on a show for all those gullible enough to believe that wrestling is all about hunks jumping off the ropes, stomping their opponent to within an inch of their life, and then throwing them out of the ring after banging their head into the corner post.

No, he is talking about real wrestling where one opponent pits himself against the wiles and strength of another opponent. For in wrestling, it is not simply a matter of strength. It is a matter of setting up your opponent, of outmaneuvering your opponent, and of outwitting your opponent. It is hand-to-hand combat that requires not only strength but a cunning spirit.
It is for this reason that Paul told the Ephesian believers, and tells us:
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

To appreciate this passage we need to note that putting on armor is seen in Isaiah 59 and Paul was undoubtedly familiar with this passage. In Isaiah 59 the background is that of a violent world where justice was lacking and where sin had separated people from each other as well as from God. God stepped into this world, a world where the enemy had a grip on the souls of men, but not before putting on righteousness as a breastplate as well as putting the helmet of salvation on his head. After putting on his armor, he stepped into this world to deal with his enemies and to redeem Zion.

So when we look at Ephesians 6 we need to see that this is not simply protective armor. Granted, much of it is designed for protection. The shield of faith is clearly manufactured for our protection. But, we put on the full armor of God not simply because we are in the midst of enemy held territory, not simply because we’re now the target of Satan’s flaming arrows, but because we’re to bring a measure of righteousness and justice to the various circumstances of life. After all, Micah 6:8 says:
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Then too, we’ve been given the great commission. He’s commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. He’s created us for a purpose and much of his plan for us, corporately and individually, is to share the gospel of peace with others.
So it is not surprising that the first piece of armor to be put on is the “belt of truth.” For with the flowing garments of the East, the first thing to be done in preparing for any active work would be to gather one’s clothing together to allow for the freedom of movement.

We see this in such verses as:
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your clock into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.” II Kings 4:29
Or when, God revealed himself to Job and told him to brace himself for the ride of his life.
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you will answer me.” Job 38:3
Or when Jesus told his disciples to be ready, day or night. Be ready, for they didn’t know when their master would return to them.
Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning. Luke 12:35
Or, when Jesus served the disciples.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that . . . John 13:3-4
We see the same idea as Peter addressed the various churches in his first letter to them.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Our translations, of course, don’t always convey the image of tucking our loose-fitting clothing in, but all of these verses, as v. 14 in Ephesians, address the issue of being prepared for action. So it is fitting that the first thing we are asked to do is to prepare for action by putting on the “belt of truth.”

Truthfulness, it is really the beginning of all good things. A student comes into my classroom with book, paper, and pencil. Does this mean they are ready for action? Maybe, maybe not. Are they willing to be truthful with themselves and with me? Are they willing to put forth an honest effort? Are they willing to mark that which is wrong, wrong? Are they willing to tell me when I have confused them? Can they be honest with me? Is my demeanor such that they feel comfortable enough to tell me the truth about particular lessons? Am I honest with them? After thirty-eight years of being in the classroom, I am convinced that the belt of truth is far more important than a student’s natural intelligence.

Or maybe we come to the Fellowship of Light class with our Bible. Are we ready for action deep within our souls? Maybe, maybe not? Are we willing to allow God’s truth to penetrate our hearts? Are we ready to be truthful with God? Can we take a hard look at ourselves and face ourselves honestly?

And what about our relationships? Are we truthful with others? Do we keep our word? If not, then we are not ready for meaningful action; we’re just playing games. Too bad, for apart from truth we can do nothing.

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