As we grow up, we establish habits we don’t even know about. We develop ways of dealing with life. We don’t know arrows that there are flying from the enemy. But we all do know about pain, anxiety, disappointment, tragedy, and a list of horrendous things that can and do happen to us when we are younger.
Flaming arrows have been landing far longer than we all know. We have developed ways of talking to ourselves and we believe ingrained lies. As we grew into adulthood, we developed methods of coping that accommodate our pain.
But now, whatever your age, you need to know that you can have armor to protect you, and that this available armor will heal you because the armor is a person. A person who loves you. You and I also need to know who the enemy is and what he is up to. You need to know that though he and his henchmen cannot be everywhere all the time, they can set up traps in the world to affect us all and cause our flesh to desire wrongly. Not to give the enemy more than he is due: he is due nothing but punishment forever. But we’re addressing who he is. Why?
So that you will know what the armor is for.
So that you do not mistake him for a caricature and think lightly of him. Christ doesn’t.
Make certain you realize you are not fighting a red-suited, cartoon caricature of the real satan. This enemy is subtle, deceiving, shrewd, wickedly cunning … and a murdering liar. He and his henchmen are the most evil and vile beings that exist. There are no words to truly describe the vicious ways he will attack. He is “like” a roaring lion, ready to shred your spiritual and physical flesh in any way possible. He detests the fact that you are alive and hates every breath you take as a child of God.
Satan will stop at nothing to try to make you ineffective at whatever you do
Anything evil is from the enemy, the thief, the liar. We have to recognize the evil effects of the flesh in our lives, which are not satan himself, but are used by satan, caused by satan, and engineered by satan within this fallen world. So, the world, the flesh, and the devil are against us. He has methods which go beyond our comprehension.
But don’t forget, in John 10:10–11, Jesus tells us that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd” (emphasis mine). In heaven there is no armor because there will be no need for it. In fact, we will be with the good Shepherd, the One who is our armor. As you read through this chapter, remember, as followers of Christ, we can stand firm in His strength, not our own. But here and now, we must build our suit of armor—made of Him, the real lion of Judah!
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