I played Division 1 NCAA football at Georgia Tech (“Ramblin’ Wrecks”). Let me assure you that I would not go on the playing field without putting on all my pads, a protective helmet, wearing a quality well fitted pair of football cleats. If not, I realized that I could sustain a major injury. It would be ridiculous to get on the field without having all your equipment fitted firmly in place.
Likewise, in the times of Christ, it would be considered ludicrous for a soldier to march onto a battlefield without his full armor fitted in place. For him, it was a life and death matter. Paul the Apostle used this metaphor for the Christian life. Each day we march out onto the battlefield whether we realize it or not and whether we have our armor on or not. Most Christians don’t understand the seriousness of this battle and how ferocious and diabolical our foe is. Many of us are emotionally and/or mentally hurt as a result. Today, we will start putting our spiritual armor on beginning with the “belt of truth.” Ephesians 6 commands us to “14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”
The Roman soldiers always strapped on a large leather belt which securely held their weapons and kept outer garments in place keeping the soldier from entanglement during a ferocious battle. Paul calls it the “belt of truth.” For the Christian soldier, truth securely holds other weapons in place and keeps us from entanglement. Truth is fundamental to our battle versus the devil. The devil does “not hold to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Conversely, the Christian is to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully” (Ephesians 5:25). “Jesus said, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31,32). Jesus instructs that we put on the belt of truth by abiding in, holding to His Word. When we abide in His truth, we are set free, never enslaved, living victoriously.
Let me address something that is huge. Perception is not truth. Perception is often laden with unhealthy, untrue emotions and leads to false interpretations of events. Relationships are repetitively destroyed because individuals hold fast to their perceptions as truth and go to their grave bitter. The devil loves perceptions but hates the truth. My wife and I have seen numerous marriages, family relationships and close friendships destroyed by perceptions.
Put on the belt of truth not the belt of perception. Truth based on God’s Word always leads to victory. It is paramount to the Christian soldier.
Barnabas Man 