I did something stupid the very last game of official football that I ever played…Sun Bowl 1970 (yep, I’m an old man). I did not take my mouth guard. I had carried a number of nagging injuries going into this game and was not expecting to play much. However, second quarter, Coach sent me in. The 3rd play was a screen pass and my job was to move into the “flat” and block a potential disruptor of the play. I picked up a large guy (number in the 70’s) and hit him as hard as I could. It was a solid block that lifted the potential tackler off the ground. The only problem is he landed on my head which forced my face to the ground ferociously. As you can easily guess, the faceguard on my helmet with great impact was slammed against my mouth. The result? A large part of my front tooth was forever lost. The very last game of a 13-year football career ended with me losing my front tooth. Why? Because I had neglected to insert my mouth guard as small as it may be. Likewise, as believers in Jesus Christ living in the midst of a constant, daily spiritual battle, we cannot be negligent. We have to be purposeful and mindful to put on all of our armor. We cannot leave one piece off.
Paul the Apostle admonishes us twice in Ephesians 6:11&13 to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” If we do not, we will get injured spiritually. This could result in hurting words spoken, relapsing back into depression, making a bad choice regarding addictions, feasting our eyes on lust, entertaining negative thoughts, being untruthful to your spouse, etc. We must put on every piece of our armor so that we can “stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Ephesians 6 gives us a quick inventory of our armor in verses 14-17 which must be put on daily:
- “having fastened on the belt of truth”
- “And having put on the breastplate of righteousness”
- “And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
- “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one”
- “and put on the helmet of salvation”
- “and take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”
Do you make a habit of putting on the “the full armor of God?” Have you put it on today?
Barnabas Man 