While there is a real spiritual battle going on in the air that we can’t see, there is a real spiritual battle on the ground that we certainly experience. Scripture reminds us that our primary fight is not against flesh and blood. We battle in a hand-to-hand engagement against our adversary, the devil.

There was a time in Israel’s history when justice had been “turned back,” righteousness stood “far away,” and “truth…stumbled in the public squares” (Isaiah 59:14). God looked for a person to man up for his cause but found no one. So, God stood up for himself. “…His own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him” (Isaiah 59:16). Then God “put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak” (Isaiah 59:17). God provided his own armor then, and now, he provides that armor for us.

Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Let’s consider the battle gear that God provides. We will start with the “belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14).

A soldier’s belt did two things. In ancient times, people wore loose gown-like garments called tunics that were hard to run and fight in. Soldiers would gather up their tunics and tuck them under their belts so they could move freely. Also, the belt was important because it held the sheath for their sword. The believer’s belt is the belt of truth.

Truth always starts with God’s Word. But here, the focus is not on the facts of the gospel but on how a believer accepts the truth and lives it out. Truth refers to the believer’s integrity and faithfulness.^[1] A true understanding of the truth leads to the practice of the truth, “the agreement of our convictions with God’s revelation.” ^[2] Remember the Isaiah 59 passage where “truth…stumbled in the public squares” (Isaiah 59:14). When believers who know the truth don’t live out the truth, their belt of truth is not fastened securely, and they will stumble in the battle!

Do you practice what you know? Is truth applied to your actions? Is your belt of truth in place and firmly buckled? Are you battle ready?

Father,
When we are living a life of disobedience, when we are not practicing what we know to be true, we will stumble and fall. Give us the strength and desire to do what we know is true. Help us buckle on the belt of truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

^[1] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 643.
^[2] Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 408.