Have you ever considered yourself the warrior type? Odds are, as a Christian, you proabably haven’t given too much thought to battle tactics, ground strategy or how to overtake a stronghold.
But we see this type of action in movies all the time. And speaking of movies…
The wait is finally over — Iron Man 2, the most anticipated action film sequel of the decade, has officially rocketed into theatres nationwide and taken the American movie-going public by storm. And, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been looking forward to this flick since the closing credits of number one.
Let’s face it: there just isn’t anything cooler than watching the debonair Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) suit up as the famous armored Avenger and give bad guys everywhere a run for their money. Besides, what other superhero do you know who can manage to save the world and still find time to go for a late night sports car cruise and belt out those side-splitting, sarcastic one liners while wooing every unsuspecting dame in his path?
But fancy gadgets and hot rod cars aside, there is a spiritual truth to suiting up and preparing to do battle – and this suit, just like Stark’s, comes outfitted with an array of weapons that will light up the world of evil like Iron Man’s suit in a dark alleyway full of bad guys.
Most of us would give our right arm for a chance to blast off in an armored Iron Man suit for a quick soar through the heavens. But, as Christians, we’ve been given access to an amazing suit of armor. Check out Ephesians 6:10-18:
“10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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.
13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (New International Version)
Wow! Talk about a seriously sweet and super suit of armor! Unlike Iron Man, who fights against “flesh and blood,” we as Christians are instead battling against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Take it from a fellow soldier, this war isn’t for the weak at heart or for the soldier who can’t decide which side he wants to fight on. Now is the time for Christians to be strong and courageous and take a tough stance against the enemy (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Check out the elements of your suit and your arsenal of holy weaponry:
The Belt of Truth: this comes in handy for overcoming the lies and deceptions of Enemy Number One, Satan. Remember that Jesus said He alone was and is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).
The Breastplate of Righteousness: this means having a daily, consistent walk with God. Remember that Satan is the Accuser (Revelation 2:10), but a Christian who walks in the light will not give Satan an opportunity to attack.
The Shoes of Peace (yes, contrary to popular belief, way cooler than Iron Man’s rocket boots): Because Satan desires to instigate spiritual warfare and unrest, a believer who walks in the way of peace will be better prepared to defeat such attacks.
The Shield of Faith: Remember that Satan is the source of all doubt, mistrust and disbelief. He loves to ask believers, as He asked Eve in the Garden, “Hath God indeed said?” (Genesis 3:1). Faith is the weapon we use to overcome every obstacle and every foe (1 John 5:4). Use the shield of faith to repel Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, fear and uncertainty.
The Helmet of Salvation: this refers to our ultimate salvation, which we will receive when God returns to take us Home. It is no mistake that this piece of our armor guards the warrior’s mind. As long as our mind remains fixed and focused on our eternal Home, which should spur us toward sharing our faith with others, we will not fall into the traps of the Enemy.
The Sword of the Spirit: this is the Word of God, which Paul later describes as being “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). And look at what can happen when we use it:
” 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start “demolishing arguments.” Grab a quick bite to eat for lunch and then take a few thoughts captive for the day. Or better yet, skip this evening’s dessert and demolish some strongholds and pretentions that exist in opposition to the knowledge of God. After all, you’ve got the weapons. Now it’s time to use them.
©2010 Joshua D. Givens & The Underground Christian E-Magazine
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This article was originally published here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/05/you-are-iron-man-time-to-suit-up-12010
