Ephesians 6:13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
As one having done both right and wrong, and with the wrong far outweighing the good, life at times feels broken, even shattered; but regardless of my failures, I must choose to stand firm in the Lord. The easier path is to try and avoid or escape the consequences, but that choice is one of futility and even cowardice.
God describes Himself as both our Shield and Buckler [a buckler is a small round shield worn on the wrist or forearm of a soldier and was used in close, hand-to-hand combat.]. The Armor of God symbolizes God Himself, representing armor in its complete and purest form, while people may only represent a fragment or portion of this armor—some embodying one aspect, others another.
It can be stated with confidence that no one has lived in this world without forming friendships. Some of our friends exemplify pieces of God’s armor: one provides a strong voice for truth, another embodies unwavering faith, and yet another consistently does what is right. We must surround ourselves with these friends and hold on to the good ground that remains. By standing firm, and remaining steadfast, we can reclaim more good ground.
