Healthy Living

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Suiting Up For Combat
© 2008

by


Though only 19 years old, Jack Cain was considered by his fellow soldiers to be one of the most remarkable young men they had ever met. Private Cain was in the last few days of Basic Training when he received a call from the Red Cross that his father was killed by lightening on his way home from work. It was just one of three tragedies that visited Private Cain and his family over the past year. Just four months before this latest event, his family’s house burnt to the ground resulting in the loss of everything of value. While the family was away attending Christmas services, house thieves broke in then destroyed or stole every present under their tree.

When Private Cain returned from his father’s funeral, his senior drill sergeant marveled at how well he had survived his difficulties. Private Cain said, “I did it by putting on the whole armor of God.”

The senior drill sergeant thought Private Cain was speaking symbolically, but he wasn’t.

Then Private Cain explained how every morning before everyone else got up how he went through the motions of putting on God’s armor, piece by piece, as outlined in Ephesians 6: 14-17.

“First, while lying on my bunk, I buckle on the belt of TRUTH, saying to myself—buckle of truth. Then I strap on the breast plate of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Next, I reach over my bunk to get my shoes of PEACE for my feet. Then I pick up my shield of FAITH to protect me against evil. I reach over then snap on my helmet of SALVATION. Last but not least, I grasp my SWORD of the spirit. After these actions, now I believe I am ready to deal with the world.

“It may sound stupid and childish,” he said boldly, “but I do not feel ready to be in the world until I am fully armored. I really believe when I do these things that God will protect me all day long no matter where I am or what I am doing. Every time I have not seen fit to armor myself against the devil, the world and the flesh unusual events and things have occurred to weaken me. I just don’t feel right.”

Outlandish! Absurd? Perhaps!

And then maybe not.

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