Ten Essentials-Essential #3
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. [Ephesians 6:14]
ESSENTIAL THREE – GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS (BREASTPLATE)
INSULATION (EXTRA CLOTHING)
Our first essential was a map and compass in the backcountry. Spiritually, that implies that we need to put on the full armor of God. (Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm).
Our second essential was we realized we needed sun protection. Spiritually, we also need protection and that is the belt of truth. We can stand firm by putting on the belt of truth. Taking hold of the truth, which is sound doctrine, and not wavering from one belief to the next.
Our third essential is insulation (extra clothing). Whenever we venture into the backcountry even if it’s for a short hike, we want to make sure that we always have other layers of clothing available. In Colorado, the weather can change drastically within minutes. (listen to the podcast about my little adventure).
Spiritually, our insulation is the breastplate of righteousness or God’s righteousness.
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [Romans 14:17]
If you look at the physical armor the breastplate was a very large piece that went from the neck to the thighs. It was usually made of interlinking chains, metal, or metal disks that gave the appearance of a scale, or a metal coat (extra layer of clothing). The breastplate was one of the most important pieces of armor because it protected the heart and other vital organs of the body. Because of this, a soldier would never think of going into hand-to-hand combat without it. It was also one of the heaviest pieces of equipment worn by the soldiers. Historians say that Goliath, the giant killed by David, wore a breastplate that weighed around 150 pounds.
What the breastplate was to the Roman soldier, righteousness is to us as a believer. In the spiritual realm, the breastplate is righteousness. We don’t want to leave home without it either or try to fight our battles without this layer of protection.
There are two kinds of righteousness mentioned in the Scriptures. First is man’s righteousness. This is the righteousness that humans try to accomplish without Jesus. Isaiah tells us that all of our righteousness is like filthy rags.
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. [Isaiah 64:6].
Second, there is God’s righteousness that is given to us at salvation. This is a gift freely given to us by God Himself. This breastplate of righteousness gives us total acceptance before God through Christ. This righteousness produces the behaviors and actions that are acceptable to God of the mature believer.
When we become a child of God, our heart changes and our focus turns to the Lord and his righteousness. By choosing to live a righteous life we are protecting our heart. and this is how we put on essential number three. We need to remember it is God’s righteousness within us and self-righteousness has no value to God.
And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. [Romans 8:10]
It is through the grace of God that we can live a righteous life. This is the spiritual breastplate that when we put it on, we can know that our heart, our focus, and our call are protected from the enemy. The enemy knows if he can attack your heart, mind, and emotions and bring in doubt, confusion, and lack of confidence he can distract you from keeping your focus on God.
So living our lives according to God’s word provides the hedge of protection around us. If we choose to live outside of God’s plan and in opposition to his word, we lose that protection (that breastplate). When we lose that protection, we also lose our peace and joy.
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God [Romans 6:13]
In other words, we are to be an instrument of righteousness! Remember this is not doing “good works” to earn favor or that you will be seen by God. But we choose to live according to the word of God because of the gift we have been given.
Putting on the breastplate of righteousness is not a one-time event. This is a daily, moment-by-moment, lifetime commitment. Just like our extra layers of clothing keep us warm and dry, we want to always keep our hearts protected from the evil forces around us.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. [1 Peter 5:8]