Imago Scriptura 102 - Ephesians 6 - Armor

I have written about my office suit of armor more than a few times over the last couple of years.  I wrote about him when writing about Romans and also in the Psalms, but how could I not bring him up.  Ephesians 6:10-17 says:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We started a sermon series on fear this past Sunday at the church I serve.  Its such a all-encompassing feeling that's "in the air" around us.  Even one of my kids asked the other day why the news was always stuff that was "bad stuff" - he literally said, "why don't they talk about the good things in the world?"  So true so true.

So, it was into this that I read Ephesians 6 and thought of my office's suit of armor.  To me, this suit and, more importantly, this passage remind me that its not about hiding from the world, but being surrounded by the things of God so that the arrows that the evil one will send are "quenched" (to use Paul's words).  Turth, righteousness, proclamation, faith - these all come together to allow us to not hide from the world, but engage the world, be present in the world, and be a part of the transformation of the world for the Kingdom of God.