INVULNERABLE ARMOR

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 17, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 20.

INVULNERABLE ARMOR.

THERE is nothing that the world seems to be more interested in to-day than the subject of arms and armor. As soon as armor is secured that seems incapable of being pierced by shot or shell, it is at once undertaken to devise a still more destructive gun in order to break through the improved armor.

It may be interesting to know that some ancient records disclose a kind of armor that is so very strong that no enemy's shaft has ever yet pierced it. There are a few who believe that it is able to withstand the most powerful weapons, even of these modern days of marvelous inventions in the arts of war.

The ancient document in which this armor is described seems to have been written about 64 A. D. by a very scholarly man who was temporarily stopping in the city of Rome. The original writing is so clear and vivid in its description that we can do no better than to give it in its own native beauty, according to one of the best English translations of it at our command. The language of the writing that describes this wonderful armor reads as follows.—

"Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

The foregoing quotation bears the inscription of the apostle Paul and is found in chapter 6, verses 10 to 20 of his letter to the Ephesians. It is well worthy of the most careful study. Every sentence and every word should be thoughtfully and frequently pondered.

We are to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." "The power of His might" is almighty power. Just think of what is comprehended in the one word, almighty. All the might of the whole universe is embraced in it, and all this power belongs to our God. The Heavenly Father inspired His apostle to invite us to "be strong in the Lord." What a gracious invitation! and how real and infinite the power!

"Put on the whole armor of God." This is the Lord's invitation. He sees us subject to all of the temptations and destructive vices of this evil world; He sees our dangers on every hand; He sees that we need protection. And so He says, "Put on the whole armor of God." It is the armor of God. It is not armor made by the Lord for us merely, but it is God's own armor; it is the power that surrounds the Infinite One. It is not merely the limited amount of power that each one of us could use with our finite faculties. Neither is it merely the power that could be put within us; but it is power put upon us. We are in the power of God; we are in the power of His might; we are in His armor, for He has invited us to put His armor on: and if we have His armor on we are in it.

God's armor is power. It is all the power in all the universe. There could be nothing too great for it, neither could there be anything beyond its reach. And the Christian is clothed with this armor of power. He has it on. Our Father who art in heaven has invited us to put on His whole armor, not a part. Do not make the mistake of reading God's Word so narrowly. He bids us put on the "whole" armor.

O, the solid comfort and the sublimity of the thought of being bathed continually in such infinite seas of power! We look upon our earth and see the wonderful manifestations of power in the life of plant and tree and animal; we think of the might that holds this rolling orb so securely under our feet. We look out to the moon, the sun, and all the hosts of planets and stellar worlds in the boundless depths of space, and we are lost in the contemplation of the ever-present power that supports and guides them in their stately onward march.

We think of the power of steam and electricity, of heat and cold. We see these things too often as mere commonplace matters. But they are the mighty forces that our God has placed within the folds of what we so glibly speak of as "nature." But these things are not nature, only as we see in nature the mighty power of our God, the Omnipotent One, God's power is everywhere and in everything. And God's power is the Christian's armor.

God's Word is the medium of His power. But here again do not get the narrow idea that His Word conducts His power to us as electricity is conducted over the wire. God's Word is not a wire that merely conducts power. But "the Word of God is quick, and powerful." Heb. 4:12. It is "quick," that is, it is living; it is so sensitive with life that it is called "quick." And it is "powerful;" that is, it is power-full. It is full of power. And this Word of God, instead of being a mere wire-conductor, is the boundless ether through which the throbbings of life and power pulsate from the infinite God, from the tender Father, to every creature. How divinely fitting, then, are the words of the apostle quoted at the beginning of this article, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

We see a craft riding upon yonder sea, and they tell us that she is one of the greatest battleships afloat. They tell us of her big guns, and her powerful steel armor. But how insignificant does this mere speck in the waters seem when we are contemplating the all-pervading power of God.

Receive God's Word! Receive God's power, and then you have God's impregnable armor! Do you have it? If not, do you want it? God has already given it to you, and now it is all yours just as soon as you take it.