The Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14)
Most of us are not big fans of war or battle. We don't look forward to the day we get to put on armor and go out to fight. Battle is sometimes necessary, but Christians shouldn't cherish it. There shouldn't be a drive inside us to attack other people or be attacked by other people. But if we had to go into battle, how vital would our armor be to us? How much would we be willing to spend on our armor? Would we forget it or ignore it? Of course not! Would there be a piece of armor that you would want to go without? Is there something you don't want to be protected from enemy fire? We want protection, and we want it to be total.
As we study through the different armor pieces, I want us to consider each part as extremely important to stand against the evil forces we are fighting against. These pieces of armor represent blessings God has given us to prevent our fall. Refusing to put on or maintain our armor could be deadly. I don't think this list would be of much use to us if we breezed through it. So we will take our time.
The Belt of Truth
The first piece of armor is not armor. Paul says to put on the belt of truth.
What Does A Belt Do?
The first item on the list is odd. Paul brings up a belt. Now, if you are like me, you hardly use a belt. We have stretchy pants now that eliminate our need for a belt, so they are more decoration than anything else. But in the Roman army, they would wear a tunic that is similar to a dress. Can you imagine trying to run and fight in a baggy dress with armor over top of it? That would be a nightmare. Roman soldiers needed this belt to tie all loose clothing close to the body and provide the soldier with agility for hand-to-hand combat.
Why A Belt of Truth
The next question we might ask is, "Why is this a belt of truth?" Just as failing to have a belt would cause us to be tripped up and limit our ability to move, failing to have the truth will cause us to struggle in any spiritual battle. The truth is the single most important and overlooked piece of our armor. It's not glorious and defensive or offensive in this case. This is not talking about the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. That's later. This is about the foundational truths for Christians to stand and move with great agility in this spiritual battle. These truths serve our offensive and defensive abilities.
When we think about it, the truth is what Satan wants us to forget. His attack is against the belt of truth. He will outmatch us and defeat us if he can cause us to loosen up on some foundational truths. Is that not what he has done in our world?
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) --- 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Truth: Absolute Vs. Relative
Truth is either loose or tight. It is either relative and dependent on our feelings, or it is absolute and dependent on some standard outside of us. The world around us wants us to believe that it's all subject to your interpretation. There are some things like which ice cream is the best that is open to debate and discussion. But some things are not. Some things are undeniable. If the speed limit says 65 and we are going 85, we can't get out of a ticket because we felt like we were going 65.
Our culture tells us to come to an understanding of our own truth. We don't want the teachings of this world or our philosophies around our waste. They won't stay tied. Satan knows how to unravel those because he created them to be unraveled so that he could trip us up. It's like using toilet paper as a belt. A splash of water is all it takes to dissolve it.
Our goal is to make our truth perfectly align with God's truth. His truth is Jesus. It is the belt that holds. Jesus came to make it easier for us to make God's truth our own, so we no longer have to trip up.
Do we believe that Jesus is the truth? We have to submit our lives to him completely, so we better be sure. We have to let go of everything we have and obey without questioning the commands of our Lord. Imagine a soldier on the battlefield who refuses to get down when the yell comes. Or imagine a soldier who refuses to go when the command to charge comes. He is either a dead man or a coward who hurts his fellow soldier. We are going out to a battlefield. This isn't a stroll in the park. Spiritual forces of evil are aiming at our heads.
I heard someone say, "Do you let the Bible tell you what is true?" There is an overall objection to the Bible as the standard of truth. People want to assume that the Bible is the invention of man without taking the time to study it for themselves.
Ephesians 4:18--21 (ESV) --- 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!--- 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Jesus teaches us that all impurity is wrong absolutely. God wants honesty and integrity. He wants men and women who completely believe and submit to the words he teaches. Consider how the Jews responded to Jesus' teachings and think about how we respond.
Jesus Is The Source of Truth
God doesn't leave us without an understanding of what is true. He sent his son to more clearly illustrate what is true and righteous. In Jesus, we have all we need to understand what is true.
John 8:31--32 (ESV) --- 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “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.”
Jesus says that his disciples abide in his word. They live in his word. They are constantly reading, meditating on, writing, or talking about it. Those who make the word of Jesus their home and dwell on his teachings know the truth, and it sets them free. The idea of being set free reminds me of what we are reading about. Satan wants to enslave and condemn with deceit and lies. But Jesus wants his truths to set us free from sin and death.
John 8:44--47 (ESV) --- 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
It is interesting how the Devil works in the minds and hearts of men. He doesn't need us to reject Jesus altogether. He just needs us to doubt him and refuse to listen to part of his message. He brings us lies and encourages us to believe a lie instead of the truth. He has been doing that from the beginning. These Jews don't understand that they believe lies and not the truth. They are following Satan, not Christ.
Jesus tells us that he has come to give us what is true. His words need to be tied around our waste. Now, let's talk about that truth. What does Jesus reveal to us? First, consider that Jesus comes to explain our sin to us. He wants us to know that it's not acceptable to justify our sins.
Jesus wants us to fight against the pressures of this world. Our culture tells us some things are wrong when they aren't. It also tells us that some things are right when they aren't.
Third, we see that Jesus raises the stakes so that we will devote ourselves to maintaining the belt of truth.
What Lies Do We Believe?
If we want to defeat the spiritual forces of evil, we have to start with a greater understanding of the truth. We have to see how destructive the lies of Satan can be to our souls. We have to face our sins instead of justifying them. Then, we need to battle against that sin with the truth.
For example, Jesus teaches us not to get angry, so we need to avoid anger. I can't let evil create bitterness and wrath in my heart. My joy is not dependent on this life and the things I possess. It's not dependent on the way other people think about me. If I lose something I enjoy, it's okay. I have more than I deserve because of Jesus. I'm called to love God and others like Jesus loves me. This truth helps me battle against anger.
Jesus teaches us not to be anxious. I can't waste my days away thinking about all of the "What ifs?" That is a distraction from the work that God has called me to do. If I know the right thing to do and fail to do it, I'm sinning. I know the typical excuses I like to use. No one else has to go through anything like this. Life is too hard. I'm a special case, and I should be anxious. Paul was concerned over the churches. Even Paul was anxious. But the truth is that anxiety shows doubt in God's power and his love for us. There is a thin line between concern and anxiety. One with anxiety freezes and reacts sinfully, but someone concerned responds with faith that God can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think.
Jesus also teaches us not to engage in immorality, sexual or otherwise. The world tells us that it's okay because it feels good. It's okay because it's fun, and it doesn't hurt anyone. The world tells us to take what makes us live the best life. Have sex before marriage, divorce for any reason, enjoy pornography, and commit adultery because we only live once. The Devil has convinced people that they are in fellowship with God while living a lie. They think they are serving God while living sinful lives. The truth is that those who sin willfully will not have a sacrifice for their sins. God wants to give us the strength we need to overcome sin and glorify him. The solution is to trust in his strength and stop living for ourselves.
What Is The Truth?
The truth is that we don't have to be angry, worried, have sexual pleasure, or feel overly guilty because Jesus gives us the truth. The truth is not, "Believe in yourself, and just stop doing evil." It's not, "It's all going to be okay. God would never give you more than you can handle." The Devil is working to destroy you! Stop trusting in yourself, and start relying on God.
The truth is that God knows you and cares for you. God will be with us and help us overcome these sins if we seek him first. Remember the lilies and the sparrows. God cares for you. In Romans, we read that God loved us enough to pave the way for us to be with him forever.
Romans 8:1--4 (ESV) --- 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Then, Paul says that we have nothing to be afraid of. If God is for us, no one will stand against us.
Romans 8:31--39 (ESV) --- 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died---more than that, who was raised---who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We need this belt of truth fastened tightly around our waist so that we are ready to fight against the Devil and spread the truth of God's glory.
Conclusion
We need the belt of truth. We need to know and commit to what. Don't buy into the lies of Satan. Without the belt of truth firmly tied around our waist, we will trip and fall. Above all truths, we believe the truth of the gospel. The truth of God's love and Jesus' sacrifice is our foundation. If God was willing to send his son to die while we were still sinners, he would still forgive those who love him and pursue his grace with submissive hearts. But not only that. He also promises that he cares about us more than the sparrows or the lilies. If we seek him and his kingdom first, all that we need will be added to us. Tie that firmly around your waist along with everything else Jesus tells us. It's not the most glamorous piece of armor, but the belt of truth ties up loose ends so that we can run.