The first item of the Whole armour of God is “The Belt of Truth”. In preparation for an “evil day”, Paul says in Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore having girded yourself with the truth”.
This is the first essential. Remember; the devil is a liar, always has been and always will be. He is ‘the father of lies’. In Eph., 6:11 Paul tells us to put on the whole armour of God so that we will be able to withstand the ‘wiles (cunning schemes) of the devil’. One of the devil’s cunning schemes is to sow doubts and fears in our minds. We find a similar word in 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober …..” The military picture is the same. The belt of the Roman soldier was made of leather and was about from 6 to 8 inches wide. It gave support to his back as well as his abdomen. With this belt on he felt secure and ready for battle.
We are living in days similar to those described by Isaiah:
“…truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking…The Lord saw it, and it displeased him…then his own arm brought him salvation…He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak” (Isa 59:14-17).
Think of it – no truth. Deception all around. Who and what can be believed? God’s word says clearly in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
Deceit, untruth, dishonesty, and cheating; all things at various levels wreck relationships, businesses, and individuals. God told Isaiah that he was going to take action and reveal himself to the nation as a God of truth, righteousness, and justice. He did it by sending Jesus as the human manifestation of himself. Jesus is ‘The Truth’.
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul mentions truth 6 times:
Ch.4:11 The Gospel is the Word of Truth. 4:15 Speak the Truth in love. 4:21 Truth is in Jesus. 4:25 Spread the truth. 5:9 Truth is part of the Fruit of the Spirit. 6:14 We must be girded with truth.
The Belt of Truth will hold us together as we worship together, pray together, and fellowship together. Let’s live the truth, walk the truth, and talk the truth. Let’s know the truths of God’s Word and live them out in our lives. Let’s spread the truth of God’s love and willingness to save.
Jesus said: “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. – John 8:32.
Blessings,
Eddie
