This Day and Age

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

It was recently suggested we see what would happen if we tried three months of putting on the armor of God each morning. This is to allow us to stand against the wiles of the enemy (Ephesians 6:11). What might the end results be? Will we be stronger in our faith, will we have endeavored to combat evil that might have been or is surrounding us? I remember a time when I would put on this armor every morning. Somewhere along the way I went to doing in occasionally. Hmmm.

What is the armor of God? What we need to battle evil, to stand against it. Without it we cannot stand strong in today's age. None of these can be had without knowing Jesus. He does not supply them to everyone, only those who have received Him. These are the components. I like to look at them in this order as opposed to the order in Ephesians 6. Remember these things comprise what we have in Christ to battle our adversary, the devil:

Helmet of salvation...we must first have received the free gift of salvation. Jesus saves...man does not.

Breastplate of righteousness...we receive righteousness in Christ and live in it when we receive our salvation.

Belt of truth...we know His truth, which is a must.

Shoes of the Gospel of peace...always a must to be ready to share what Jesus has done and can do...and will do!

Shield of faith...trusting only in God, standing by His Word, sharing His Word...that the fiery darts of the devil will be quenched.

Sword of the Spirit...the Word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword, which when spoken is powerful.

It all starts with our salvation that only comes through Jesus. All else falls into place after that when we seek Him for truth and wisdom. 

The times are challenging. There might be a sense of something going on but a finger can't quite be put on it. Maybe it's figured it will go away. The things happening in the world, this age, as the Word states, are predominantly caused by the evil suggested in Ephesians 6:12. This evil is referred to in the first scripture. It's hard to convince of spiritual realms because they can't be seen. Yet the Bible clearly states they're there.

Of course there is a good spiritual realm empowered by God, One who is greater than all the evil. That is a greater comfort. We all live in the darkness of evil before we realize there truly is a God who has done so much for us. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭13-14‬) 

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-2)

This is why He sent Jesus. To remove us from the darkness and into His light. His desire is that none should perish.

There is evil in this world because one chose to consider himself equal, if not greater, than God, which got him into trouble! He got kicked out of a prominent position in heaven. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’" (‭Isaiah‬ ‭14‬:‭12-14‬) This angered him and he's been God's biggest opponent ever since. It is his desire, the opposite of God's, to drag as many down with him as he can. 

We who know and understand this great God have known who will be victorious in the end. His fate was established when Jesus died on the cross and is available to us all should we decide to choose Christ. That's what I stand on, what I attempt to share...that we are all doomed to life of evil if we do not receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Until He returns, however, we live with evil all around, some seen, some not, but that which we sense. That's why Jesus came, to bring us hope and peace. No peace or hope apart from Him.

I believe all this because I believe what the Bible says. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. And I'm very thankful that Jesus saves all from evil if they just give their lives to Him. We will still have to fight against evil while we live in this world; there's no getting around that. That's why Jesus came. That's why we have His armor. That's why He said to put our trust and faith in Him...because He overcame the world. Have you allowed Him to save you? 

John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”