What seems like just a few years ago, but in reality it’s been many years ago, I used to join a group of family and friends on a ‘spring fling’ camping trip. This was no ordinary camping trip, this was a full-on weekend trip on the banks of the Congaree River. Our supplies would be brought in via 4-wheelers or carried down by hand, and by down I mean a significant slope and distance from the area where we would park to the area we would camp.
So the supplies brought in for the weekend needed to be necessities, and not much more than necessities. If you have ever been in the flood plain of the river, you know the greatest enemy in spring is not snakes, or spiders, or alligators, its mosquitoes. Mosquitoes will absolutely pick you up and carry you away.
There are a few ways to fend off these blood sucking creatures. The most common is bug spray, and in this case 100% deet pre-applied on your clothing. At some point the thermacell became a reality and worked reasonably well. One of the greatest deterrents is smoke, so a good campfire is a necessity. Lastly, an answered prayer for a good breeze would keep the evil creatures from flying.
I can say each of these methods would work. But it is an uncomfortable feeling sitting in a chair by the fire and hearing the hum of millions of these pointy nosed beasts hovering inches from you, held back by the thinnest of barriers. So often (and out of necessity) all of these deterrents would be deployed in an effort to make the evenings and nights survivable.
Saint Peter would write (1 Peter 5:8, ESV) “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If you want an image of this verse, go camping in the swamp in springtime!
What is our protection, our shield, our cover that keeps the devil from devouring us? There are moments in our lives where we enter the flood plains, brought low into the stagnant waters of a dark moment, with minimal supplies and an unrelenting adversary. There is not a single thing we can do ourselves to ward off the onslaught. Within seconds, we could have the very life blood sucked out of us. We are helpless against this adversary, the attack comes from every possible direction and it is unrelenting. How are we to be protected, how are we to survive, and not just survive but thrive?
Consider our verses for today in this context, taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (6:13-18, ESV):
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.....”
Almighty Father, make us strong in Thee, give us the whole armor; the belt of Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, shoes to guide, the readiness of Gospel peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, that the Enemy is kept from us at all times; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, now and always. AMEN.