Standing firm and going out
Cast your mind back, if you can, to the Gulf War, when George Bush Senior was US President. You may recall seeing footage, just the word I want, of Saddam’s ramshackle army. The only footwear that these poor fellows had was what they had bought in the local high street. I guess someone had decided, in an attempt to save money, that although weapons and uniforms were essential, boots were not. Big mistake.
Even today an essential element in military strategy is speedy mobilisation of your troops. The Romans figured this out early on and their soldiers were equipped with stout, thick soled, hob-nailed, leather sandal-boots of a very sturdy type. These were important too for hand-to-hand fighting, where one slip could be fatal, to say nothing of snakes or strongholds fortified with short sharp spikes all around. David Beckham’s October (2003) penalty miss in Turkey was a reminder of the importance of staying on your feet.
Staying on your feet
In his fight against the devil, the Christian must stay on his feet. He must be sure-footed and able to move forward at a moment’s notice. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 6, with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Some say this means only that we need the gospel of peace as a basis to withstand Satan but it probably also means that we should be ready to move into enemy territory. Perhaps Paul has in mind Isaiah’s reference to the beautiful feet of those who bring good news (Isaiah 52:7). Ephesians and Colossians have many parallels and perhaps there is one in Colossians 4:5, 6 which speaks of being wise in the way you act towards outsiders; making the most of every opportunity and letting your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Fighting for peace
Gospel, of course, means good news, and Paul here stresses the peace it brings to all who accept it and trust in Christ. He seems to be speaking paradoxically, then. We fight to bring peace. Indeed, it is widely accepted that sometimes the way to peace is through war. That is certainly the situation as far as Christ’s kingdom and the devil are concerned. War against the devil is the only way to lasting peace.
The peace Christ brings is both outward and objective and inward and subjective. By his death Christ has reconciled his people to God, even though we are all his enemies by nature. With that comes an inner peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ. When we have such peace we can advance the kingdom. This includes taking the message of peace to others by telling them the gospel. God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (1 Corinthians 5:18). The gospel brings its own offence but is essentially a message of peace. It calls on all to lay down their arms and stop fighting against the Lord and instead to be enlisted in Christ’s own army in the fight against sin and against the devil.
To be successful in battle, then, we need to be at peace with those who are on our own side and to be at war with the devil. The gospel must be the basis and foundation of all that we do. Then we can give ourselves to the work of advancing the kingdom, which includes telling others the way to peace through trust in Christ. We must go as ambassadors and present the appeal of the gospel to all whom we meet. We must implore them to be reconciled to God.
Originally published in Grace Magazine
