The Armor of God
How many of us love the memes of believers wearing armor fit for a Greek or a Roman soldier? We get the idea from Ephesians 6:11, where Paul says to put on “the full armor of God.” The “full armor” part is panoplia in Greek and refers to the full complement of equipment a Greek soldier would take into battle. We often read this and picture ourselves similarly dressed—covered in bronze and leather, and looking formidable and fierce.
Yet Paul didn’t encourage his readers to wear Greek panoplia, but the panoplia of God. This armor doesn’t come in outward, visible protection, but the invisible power of salvation, righteousness, and faith. We don’t put these things on the way we’d put on clothes. We wrap ourselves with them through a living, thriving, ongoing relationship with God.
Which is why I think picturing ourselves this way may produce a wrong mindset. Greek panoplia focuses us on the bad guys—what they might do to us and what we may need to do to them. The armor of God, however, points our attention in another direction.
A Different Picture of the Armor of God
In Revelation 19, Jesus appears on a white horse, ready for battle. The armor he wears is a white robe dipped in blood. No other armor covers him. His doesn’t even wield his sword with his hand, but with his mouth. He battles with words, not a blade.
And what about his soldiers? The army marching behind him in Revelation 19:14 wears, not bronze, but “fine linen, white and clean.” Earlier, in verse 8, we’re told that this kind of linen is the “righteous acts” of the saints.
The picture we gain is of the King and his bride going forth to battle, equipped with and protected by nothing but righteousness. The Antichrist-Goliath stands before them, all his threats, power, and pomposity on full display. But these soldiers keep their focus squarely on the God they love, serve, and obey.
Perhaps when we put on the full armor of God, our focus should not be on the enemy at all. Perhaps we should use the opportunity to worship and fall back in love with the one who so wonderfully clothes us.
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Any thoughts on this? Please comment.