(Submitted By
Kerry Patton)
“Stand firm then,
…with the breastplate of righteousness in place” Ephesians 6:14
Bullet Proof…vest
I recently discovered the Spike
network program “Auction Hunters.”
Auction Hunters is a program where two men bid on abandoned storage
lockers in an attempt to win the contents left behind by previous owners. They then strive to turn a quick profit on
the items of worth they manage to win.
In a recent episode, one of the
items they find turns out to be a very expensive and very rare bullet-proof
vest which would be worn by a law enforcement officer or a soldier. The expert who evaluated the vest determined
that while the vest was not the latest technology in body armor, it would in
fact stop just about any handgun or automatic weapon projectile you fired at
it. I found myself imagining how I would
want such a piece of armor if I were to be in the line of fire.
Man’s Righteousness - Not Bullet Proof
One of the truths the Apostle Paul
wants us to grasp in Ephesians 6 is that we ARE in the line of fire…every
day. He impresses upon us that we are in
a battle…not with earthly enemies, but with spiritual enemies. Standing in my own good intentions, I am
tempted to dress myself in an armor of my own righteousness. I would love for my resume of personal works
and spiritual stick-to-itive-ness to be sufficient in protecting me in the
battles and temptations I face throughout the day.
The harsh reality is that a
breastplate of my own righteousness is going to be completely and utterly
useless in the battle. The breastplate
of my
own righteousness has gaping holes in it. I strive to keep it polished, but in the heat
of battle, it proves to be little more protection than wet tissue paper. Isaiah 64 speaks truth in verse 6: “And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment…”
So what hope do I have? Whose righteousness will be my protection in
this spiritual war? With what do I dress
myself against this onslaught?
Armor Effective…Truly.
When I am dressed with the
breastplate of righteousness, it is the righteousness of Christ that I wear by
faith. It is not my reputation that
rejects the accusations of the enemy, but Christ’s! It is not my faithfulness that stands, but
His! It is because of Him that Isaiah
54:17 can testify: No weapon that is formed against you will
prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from
Me," declares the
LORD.” The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus is truly
bulletproof. Nothing can come against
it.
So how do I put it on?
Ephesians 2:8,9 makes it clear
that my salvation is not based upon my own performance: “For by grace
you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift
of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Likewise, I do not take on the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness through my
own good works or act of will. In fact
it is in my weakness that in His strength is made perfect. It is in surrender to Jesus that I am made
victorious and am clothed in his righteousness.
Scripture to claim:
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of
God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who
believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the
redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:21-24
