Christian Living

The Armor III —Protecting Your Heart

by J.W. Phillips
02/05/25
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The Armor III—Protecting Your Heart

The second part of God’s armor is the breastplate of righteousness. Since the breastplate covers the heart, this part of the armor was designed to protect the core of our character, the essence of our being. And never is our identity more vulnerable than when accusations from the Anti-One start flying our way!

To successfully withstand these accusations, we must first understand the components of this breastplate. There are two, and both come from God.

The first component is imputed righteousness, whereby we get credit for the perfect life Jesus lived.

This is exceedingly important: Because if our hearts are supposed to be protected by our track record for doing good, we certainly see some chinks in that armor.

What we need is a righteousness of a different sort. This is a point that can be introduced by the following true story.

During the Civil War, there came a time so crucial to the outcome of the war that the President forbade any soldier to leave his post. As it turned out, on the very day this command was issued, word came from Kentucky that a certain soldier’s wife was about to die.

Envisioning her in that isolated cabin with no one to take care of her, the soldier asked his commanding officer for permission to take leave. But because of the President’s order, the officer was compelled to decline this request, despite his desire to grant it.

The looks that the two men then exchanged—one of grief, the other of sympathy—concluded abruptly a few seconds later when the commanding officer said, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Since we’re such a short time away from the capitol, I’ll give you permission to go there on the pretense of an assignment, and if somehow you can get to see the President—well, maybe he’ll let you go home to be with your wife.”

Grateful for this chance, the soldier immediately undertook the one-day journey to Washington. Upon arrival, he entered the city, found the White House, crossed its immaculate lawn, climbed the steps to the entry way—only to find the door blocked by a big, burly guard! This imposing figure seemed impervious to anyone’s personal problem.

Following protocol, the soldier identified himself and asked if he could see the President. The guard answered gruffly, “The President isn’t seeing anyone today!”

The soldier then showed orders authenticating his dispatch from his regiment. But the answer he got was exactly the one he first received, “The President isn’t seeing anyone today!”

With a rush of emotions, the soldier quickly explained his circumstances: how his wife lay dying, how there was no family who could be with her, how he needed presidential permission to go home. Still, showing no emotions, the guard responded with a gruff, staccato insistence, “The President—isn’t—seeing—anyone—today!”

With that, every hope collapsed for this soldier. So he turned and left, becoming almost oblivious of his surroundings as he reversed his course.

That initial numbness gave way to an overcoming grief by the time he left the White House lawn. Hence, with head in hands, he sat down on Pennsylvania Avenue and began to cry.

Nearby, some children were playing. One of them, soon noticing this strange occurrence, went to the man and asked, “What’s the matter, mister?” The soldier didn’t respond.

Undaunted, the little boy asked a second time, “What’s the matter, mister?”

Without looking up, the soldier muttered something about his dying wife and his need to see the President. Sobbing as he spoke, he retained enough military discipline to keep his body from convulsing with emotion.

Speaking sympathetically, the little boy said, “I’ll take you to see the President, mister.”

The little boy then pulled this man’s large, leathery hand—without success.

Despite the soldier’s sneer of incredulity, the boy pulled this man’s hand yet again, this time more forcibly, until he finally got this sobbing soldier to stand.

For reasons he didn’t even know, the soldier allowed the little boy to lead him across the White House lawn, then up the White House steps to where the guards were stationed. But to his surprise—I mean to his surprise! —this time the guards stepped aside!

And with the little boy still leading the way, the doors to the White House opened!

The soldier couldn’t believe it! It was almost like a dream! He was now inside the White House!

Walking down a hallway, the little boy then knocked on the door. “Who is it?” a kindly voice asked.

“It’s me, Dad,” the little boy answered. “Come on in, Tad,” the voice replied.

The little boy then entered with this soldier in tow. Introducing his new friend to the one history now regards as the greatest President of the United States, the little boy gave the gist of the story about his new friend’s dilemma.

What happened next you can easily anticipate. Consistent with his greatness, Abraham Lincoln began writing on a piece of paper; and then with moistened eyes he gave the soldier what he had requested: permission to go home to be with his dying wife.

What a touching story this is! But is not this story also our own?

For here we are with so many needs, some of these being so utterly desperate! So, to whom can we go? And by what merit can we gain access?

All may appear bleak and black, but good news arrives! For it is none other than the Son of God who not only sees us, but also rallies to our side and refuses to leave us in our misery.

He then takes us to a place much more impressive than the White House, since no government on earth even begins to have the power that the Throne Room of the universe has!

Just know: The righteousness that protects the believer’s heart is precisely this kind of righteousness—the righteousness that gives us access to the Father because of the merits of his Son.

Therefore, whenever the devil accuses us, as he is very faithful to do, we can tell him that Jesus knows all about our sin-struggles. In fact, taking note of every sin, our God has already measured out a forgiveness that expunged every one of these from the record!

So—case closed! Verdict rendered! Charges dismissed! The prosecution has no legal ground to stand on! You are free from guilt!

Had this gone the other way, had the charges stuck and shame stamped your soul, you couldn’t win a spiritual battle, not against Satan.

There’s more to this story, though. The breastplate of righteousness offers further protection for your heart, as we shall see in the next post.