Ephesians

Make Your Stand

What good is armor if it is allowed to rust away in a closet? If you are a Christian, you have the full armor of God available to you. Are you using it? Have you put it on? Have you flexed it and tested it in battle? When you find yourself growing cold or lukewarm, when you are under attack by the schemes of the devil, when you are anxious or depressed, when you are beset by doubts or fears, when you feel the lure of lusts—do you take refuge in the armor and mighty strength of the Lord?

Finally, remember why you have been given 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” (Ephesians 6:13). The point of this spiritual armor is to make sure that we will be able to stand in the day of evil.

What does that mean, “to stand”? Picture a football team defending its goal line. Its back against its own end zone, the defense lines up on the scrimmage line and digs in, standing tough, refusing to be moved. This is exactly what Paul’s word picture suggests to us. We are to refuse to move from the ground of faith we have taken.

Why does Paul want us to stand? Shouldn’t we fight, advance, charge against the enemy? Paul wants us to think soberly about what spiritual warfare really means. He encourages us to stand because he knows there will be times when that is all we can hope to do. There are times in battle when the fight is so furious that a soldier can do no more than defend his position and stand his ground. Paul knows that the day of evil is coming. He knows that as we draw nearer to the time of our Lord’s return, evil days will come with greater frequency and intensity. Most of all, he doesn’t want us to be knocked off our feet by the terrors of that day.

We also need to realize that the war we are engaged in is primarily a defensive action. Our Lord and Commander, Jesus Christ, has the might and power to take offensive action—and indeed He accomplished His mission when He was nailed to a cross two thousand years ago, and when He arose in resurrection power. Only He has the power to go face to face with the prince of darkness. Our role in this war is to make a defensive stand, a goal-line stand, a defense against the siege of Satan. Our primary function is not to take new ground, but to repel invasion and defend that which is already ours.

As the apostle Jude writes, “I…urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3). Or as Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). Amazingly, our defensive action is the greatest offense we could mount. The Christian who learns to put on the armor of God and pray and remain immovable becomes an impenetrable barrier to the schemes of Satan. He demonstrates Christ-like peace and poise to a troubled and fearful world—and in the process, he draws more and more people to consider the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, friend in Christ, I urge you along with the apostle Paul: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. So that when that evil day comes—and make no mistake, it is coming!—you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, after the smoke and haze of battle clears, the enemy will lie vanquished at your feet. And you will stand, joyful and victorious, beside your Lord and Commander, Jesus Christ.

Study Questions

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