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"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord
and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to stand; against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians
6:10,11 and following.
Paul penned this letter from prison in Rome. The "prison
epistles" are Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and
Philemon. He had been preaching the gospel for 15 years with
the result that there were many converts to faith in Christ.
Their little churches were his constant care and concern.
Immobilised in jail he corresponded with them, giving them
advice and encouragement, and reflecting on the great truths
he and they shared, believed and taught to others. He wrote,
too, of his experiences since the day Jesus had confronted
him on the Damascus Road.
Ruminating on the past Paul's thoughts were not unhappy as
he described the many fearful things that had happened to
him. There were many verbal and physical attacks - beaten
up several times, facing death time and again, whipped the
regulation 139 stripes five times, beaten with rods, three
times, stoned, shipwrecked three times. He had even had to
spend 24 hours once in the open sea. He was constantly in
danger and never in the best of health. There has been speculation
on the illness from which Paul suffered with the suggestion
of eye trouble, for he spoke of the large letters in his correspondence.
He was short in stature. The name he was given, Paul, in Latin
means little.
He was thankful in spite of everything, that he had not been
prevented whatever happened to him, from carrying on his mission.
He was always conscious of his place in the plan of God for
the people of God, the salvation of souls. To him the church
was rooted in Christ spreading out like the vine and its branches
to bring other people to faith in God through the person and
work of Jesus Christ, Paul warned Christians that they, too,
could be faced with opposition and persecution. He used the
illustration of a soldier and his equipment to describe what
they needed to serve Christ in an alien world. His constant
theme was victory for Christ and Christianity is dependent
on the sincerity, loyalty, honesty, obedience and industry
of His soldiers, His plea to believers was,
"Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might."
There must be utter dependence on Christ. Speaking for
himself he said, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens
me."
He pictures this strength as an armour worn by the Christian
to keep him safe. He uses the soldier's gear when he speaks
of "loins girt about with truth." He had in mind
the belt or girdle necessary to prevent it interfering with
his movements. And he compares truth to a girdle which holds
together all other qualities in a person to make him useable
and effective. Truth is spoken and shared in sincerity.
Charles Dickens said. "The longer I live the more
I find that without sincerity a man can do nothing."
Paul was constantly concerned about Christians who had the
truth of the gospel but who lacked sincerity in telling it
to others. He spoke of "the breastplate of righteousness."
A breastplate was to protect vital parts of the soldier's
body. The Christian is protected against the onslaughts of
his enemies by his faith, integrity, uprightness of character
which shows in determination, courage, patience and fortitude.
Peter Pienaar in John Buchan's "Mr Standfast" said:
"Fortitude is the biggest thing a man can have.......
Billy had it when he trekked solitary from Garungoze to the
Limpopo with fever and a broken arm just to show the Portagooses
he wouldn't be downed by them. But the headman at the job
was the Apostle Paul."
When Paul pleaded with Christians to be true to Christ whatever
the cost he showed them the way to do it. There was no better
illustration of what that could mean when he gave an account
of his work and witness for his Lord and Saviour.
He spoke of boots "having your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace." The Romans were foot conscious.
They ensured that their soldiers were well shod for whatever
terrain they had to traverse.
Paul reminded his readers that they were made strong and
sure-footed by their commitment to Christ their readiness
for any emergency.
Canon Dr SE Long
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