You're Going To Be Sick!

“B

lake Carpenter, you’re going to be sick!  Get in this house right now and put on a jacket!”  If I had a dime for every time I heard these words, I would be a very rich man!  Wearing a jacket was never a priority with me.  As long as I had on a sweater or sweatshirt, I was just fine.  The cold wouldn’t bother me; after all, I was just going to be outside for a few minutes. 

My mom and dad, however, saw things just a bit differently.  Every time I left the house they would always ask if I had a coat or a jacket on.  Reluctantly, I would head to my closet, open the door, pull out a jacket, put it on and then leave.  Most of the time, I wouldn’t zip up the jacket, just to be a little rebellious and stubborn. 

I never understood why wearing a jacket was so important.  I felt good, I wasn’t’ sick, and it really wasn’t all that cold outside.  Despite my best efforts and my eloquent arguments, my parents always trumped my hand and insisted on my wearing a coat.  On those occasions when I “forgot” to wear my jacket and came down with a cold or the flu, my mom would then say the words no one likes to hear, “I told you so!”  There simply was no way to win unless I heeded my parents’ advice.  Which is exactly what I should have done!

The Apostle Paul wanted his readers in Ephesus to know that jackets and protective coverings are very important to our spiritual walk as well.  Paul understood that being in the world without spiritual protection leads to sickness in the soul and causes our relationship with God to suffer and grow cold.

In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul admonishes his readers with these words, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

In this passage Paul uses the image of armor to stress the importance of protecting our journey in the world.  Please take note that the soul’s enemies, just like bacteria, viruses, and other germs, are not visible.  We do not have an enemy we can see, we have one who remains invisible and for whom we are no match without protection.  Paul, therefore, commands us to dress ourselves completely in God’s armor—not our own armor—so that we can stand against the constant attacks coming against us.

Wherever you are in your walk today I pray you are wearing your armor.  I trust before you left your home you dressed yourself in it, leaving no part of your life exposed to the enemy’s attack.  The world in which we live is filled with danger and if you are not protected and well covered, sin’s germs can and will creep into your life.

So, are you wearing a jacket today?  No matter how nice and inviting it looks on the outside, without your jacket—that is your armor—you are going to get sick.  Grab that jacket before you leave, and please remember to zip it up!  Have a great day!