Ephesians 6:11-12 says, “Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness [that comes from] the gospel of peace.” (NIV)
There is a story of a young G.I., who was tasting World War II combat for the first time in a bloody battle in the Italian mountains. He dived into a foxhole just ahead of some bullets and began deepening the shallow pit. As he frantically scraped with his hands, he unearthed something metal. It was a silver crucifix, lost by a former foxhole occupant. Just then, another man hurtled into the foxhole, beside the frightened soldier, artillery screaming overhead. After the explosions, the soldier noticed his companion was a chaplain. Holding out the crucifix, the soldier gasped, “Boy am I glad to see you! How do you work this thing?”
At times, we all like that young man. By God's grace, we've been given this incredible armor of God. We have at our disposal, as Christians, the Lord’s Vast Strength. We have the belt of Divine Truth. We have the Breastplate of Righteousness that protects us. And now we're urged to have our feet sandaled with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace.
Maybe you have a testimony of how the Lord strengthened you when you least expected it. Or, how the Truth was like a light, shining in the darkness, guiding you through a confusing time. Or, how Christ's righteousness has been your every confidence as you've grown in holiness. Whether you’re a young or seasoned Christian, we want to help “work this thing” called the Christian life.
So, in Ephesians 6:11-12 comes the command to “Stand." Sounds simple enough! Last week I was clearing out mom’s house and found a treasure. There, sitting in her garage trash can, was Watchman Nee's spiritual classic, “Sit, Walk, Stand.” One of my siblings had tossed it in the trash. My heart sunk seeing it sitting there. It was one of the first books I read on spiritual growth.
In concise, straight-forward language punctuated by occasional story. He describes how a child first learns to sit and then walk, before he or she can stand firm. This is also true in our spiritual life! Nee says we are first to rest (sit) in our position in Christ, then as a natural outflowing, walk the kingdom life, and then lastly, to stand in Christ's name against evil. Walking and standing must flow out of sitting. As a young man, I’d never learned to sit and rest in God's grace, assured of God's love, trusting in Christ's breastplate of righteousness. I hadn't learned to walk with God and hear his voice. I definitely hadn't learned to stand resolute, unshakeable, in my faith. I was more of a cowardly Christian, who shrinks back, not a bold one.
Paul makes a keen observation in these verses. We might frame it in modern vernacular any number of ways. For instance, racing season is upon us. Those crazy announcers try to excite viewers with even the most mundane aspects of a race. Lead changes. Pit stop strategies. Caution flags. After four hours, they kind of lull you into a deep sleep! But then a car spins out, and the mother of all crashes is triggered! The crashes make the races bearable, otherwise it’s nap time!
There is a saying in the car world… that a car is only as good as its tires. Most every race comes down to tires. You can have the best car—but if tires are bad… You can have average car but if tires are good… you can win! Tires aren't just an accessory. Tires are the crucial point of contact between vehicle and road. Tires provide the grip needed to accelerate, brake, and take corners. The grip needed to overcome adverse road conditions whether rain, snow, or ice. Tires allow you to feel the track. They protect you from debris and dangerous blowouts. Before you even put the car in gear, you may have already lost if you don't get the right tires.
There is also a saying in the military… a soldier is only as good as his boots. The Roman soldier was elite in large part, because he had his feet shod with a sturdy, leather sandal. Their footwear gave him superior advantages. Before you walk or stand, check your feet. Without good footwear…the soldier
• Will be slowed down and weakened: Every step will be painful and precarious. He won't be able to keep pace with his unit, potentially leaving him vulnerable.
• He'll be easily injured: Sharp rocks, uneven terrain, and even just the constant friction will cause blisters, cuts, and infections. A soldier with injured feet is a liability, not an asset.
• He won't be able to fight effectively: When the battle begins, he needs to be agile and surefooted to maneuver, charge, and defend himself. Slipping, stumbling, or being hampered by pain will make him an easy target. His focus will be on his aching feet, not the enemy.
• His morale will suffer: Constant discomfort and the inability to perform his duties will demoralize him and potentially his comrades who have to wait for him or assist him.
• He's subject to disease. Poor footwear makes you vulnerable to infections and other debilitating conditions.
But a well-sandaled soldier is a formidable warrior! He can march long distances without significant discomfort. He can navigate various terrains with confidence. He can move quickly and decisively in battle. He can maintain focus and contribute effectively to the fight. If he can't even move properly, the soldier's skill with a sword or his knowledge of tactics becomes almost irrelevant! His footwear is the foundational element that allows him to execute his training and contribute to the army's success.
A soldier is only as good as his footwear. Even the most skilled and well-trained individual can be severely limited or rendered ineffective by a failure in this most basic equipment.
In history, Napoleon's army suffered a disastrous Russian campaign because of bad footwear. During the American Revolutionary War, inadequate footwear was a constant struggle for George Washington's Continental army. During the Winter at Valley Forget, soldiers marched in rags and even went barefoot in winter conditions. This led to frostbite, infections, weakening of the army's strength. In World War I, the wet and muddy conditions caused widespread “Trench Foot", and reduced fighting capacity.
For the Apostle Paul “the Gospel" is essential equipment. A Christian is only as good as his gospel. A Christian is only as potent, effective as his gospel. A Christian is only as grounded, and able to stand, and ready, as his gospel.
Perhaps Ephesians 3:16-19 makes more sense in light of this metaphor. “I pray. . . that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Here, Paul uses the compound image of being "rooted and established". Some translations use "grounded" for the second term. Rooted evokes the picture of a plant sending down deep roots into the soil. The roots have a dual purpose… on the one hand they extract nourishment from the soil. But they just as importantly provide the stability to withstand storms.
Established and Grounded evokes the picture of a building. A building is only as strong as its foundation. A believer’s first priority is to become as deeply rooted in God's love. This isn't just for your nourishment, it’s also for your endurance and strength. In Colossians 2:6-7 Paul writes, “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”
What are you doing to be rooted, established, built up in your faith? When I saw that book in the trash, I felt sad. Why? So few people haven't learned to read. Not that they’re illiterate… but not many have learned to be rooted, or build up their faith in the Word. Maybe sitting, walking, standing is as simple as learning to deeply read God's Word, and also the spiritual classics. We don't have to relearn everything from scratch—an unspiritual teenage boy, can even learn from an old dead dude like Watchman Nee.
Even though Paul issues the invitation to “Stand" there is something even greater he has in view. To sitting, walking, and standing Paul would add “Advancing.” The gospel doesn't just battle harden our position in Christian circles, it also advances our position… it advance Jesus’ mission in the world. So, in Ephesians 6:13 Paul speaks of force “readiness", gospel readiness. A readiness to move forward, to engage people with the good news of Christ. To say boldly, “here is God's purpose for your life… here is God's grace for you… his mercy, his love, his righteousness… here is what hope in Christ looks like…”
To be ready is ability to deploy (go), ability to effectively engage. It requires training. Quickly. 2 Timothy 4:2: Paul exhorts Timothy to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season." This emphasizes a constant state of preparedness to share the Gospel regardless of the circumstances.
1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." This verse explicitly calls believers to be constantly ready to articulate the basis of their faith and the hope they possess through Christ. This requires knowing the core message of the Gospel and being able to communicate it clearly and respectfully.
Colossians 4:5-6: "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This encourages believers to be alert for opportunities to share the Gospel and to speak in a way that is both gracious and impactful.
Where are you … learning to sit, walk, stand, or advance?