The arrow. The arrow comes fast. The arrow is thin and hard to notice from a distance. The arrow might be lit up on fire. The arrow can only come from the enemy. The arrow is shot with precision to aim. The arrow intends to harm, or even to kill.
The shield. The shield had the size and shape of a little door. The shield is not easy to carry, yet vital. The shield should be made of material to put out fire. Many shields put together can protect a big group. The shield is there to offer double protection (an addition to the breastplate).
The shield of faith on Suffer For Christ Avenue
Not too long ago, a wife became a widow because of a poor health system in the country. While still grieving, one of the sons continues the battle of alcoholism, while the other son is numbed by drugs. You’d think that mother’s pain is overwhelming enough. Yet, one of the sons in driving recklessly takes a young mother’s life walking with her young one.
Oh the arrows shooting at this widowed mother.
Is it the arrow of despair: How much more Lord can I handle?
Is it the arrow of worry: How can I survive financially on my own?
Is it the arrow of doubt: Do you love me Lord, ’cause I don’t feel it?
Is it the arrow of anger: How could all these happen to me?
The shield of faith doesn’t protect us from hardship and pain. Christian life doesn’t reside on Easy Street. More often it resides on Suffer For Christ Avenue. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” James 1:2,3
But, Christ welcomes us with a basket of strength and grace. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
How is the shield making our life easier then? The shield of faith declares to the enemy that “I believe my God is sovereign, and that all things work for good, even if right now I don’t understand the ‘why’. I trust my God even in my suffering. ” Based on Romans 8:28.
When can you declare victory?
In order to be victorious and not the victim, you need to have that prep time, ALONE with God to build up your shield of faith. Most things nowadays have the tag ‘made in China’. Well, that’s not the case with your shield of faith. It’s shaped and built for you. It’s personalised in that quality time spent in meditating on God’s Precepts, in bending our knees in prayer.
Yet, the victory is not based on how successful our Quiet Time is: was I interrupted? Was my coffee sweet enough? Were the skies a perfect blue? Was my soul pumped up, and my prayer longer than usually? That’s all good, and we should celebrate these sweet moments.
But when the rubber meets the road, when the arrow of selfishness, of greed, of pride, of temptation comes fast on us, do I put that shield of faith into practice?
You can declare yourself victorious, not in the prep time for battle, although it’s vital, but only when you are still standing after the speedy arrows were shot at you, and the shield of faith took the ‘bullet’ for you and not your chest. Christ will win the war when He returns, but while we are still on earth we need to stand strong in each battle.
When are we victorious? When you were tempted to lie/ or hide something, and yet you told the truth in spite of risking consequences. When you were tempted to give into despair, yet trusted God that ‘all things work for good’. When you were tempted to let your mind wonder around in shameful places, yet you hit the breaks because you delight in the Lord and not in sinful-temporary pleasure.
Better together
The Romans would often use the ‘tortoise’ formation to protect as a whole. Each soldier would be equipped with their own door-shaped shield. The front-line soldiers would stay close together shoulder to shoulder, shield to shield (no gaps in between) to protect from frontal attack. The soldiers inside would line up their shields on top of their heads to protect from projectile attack from above.
Even the Romans understood the principle of sticking together to protect each other. This year, our church’s motto is ‘BETTER TOGETHER’. We are challenging believers to get involved regularly in the church, in a small group, and to make a difference in the community through serving together.
As John MacArthur said once “We are not fighting evil. We are fighting the Evil One.” So, let’s pray that God will make us one as a church. In our battle with the Evil One, we are better and stronger together.
May Christ help us to love the people in our church and not just tolerate them. May we not abandon the church because of personality conflict, or other types of conflict. Work out your differences. We will flourish, while the Devil’s arrows will fade away. David in Psalm 133:1 says ” How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
In Conclusion
There’s a saying ” When you shoot at nothing, you will hit it every time”. Well, remember that Satan shoots at very specific areas of our life, but he doesn’t have to hit its target.
In this season of your life, what are the arrows most likely to shoot from the enemy? Do you feel victorious, or more like a victim?
Pick up your shield of faith. Don’t lose HOPE believing the Devil’s lies. Just TRUST God’s promises.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37