All Articles
Fulfilling the Purpose of Shining Armor
The winds of history are forever blustery. Changing over time as life experiences paint a tapestry rich in color; prolific in meaning. Revealing lessons that are perennially relevant. At times, we become like the dramatist who sees persons and situations as timeless symbols and embodiments of eternal shining principles. Such was Churchill.
“The Prime Minister was able to impose his imagination and his will upon his countrymen and enjoy a Periclean reign precisely because he appeared to them larger and nobler than life and lifted them to an abnormal height in a moment of crisis. It was a climate in which men do not usually like living. It demands a violent tension which, if it lasts, destroys all sense of normal perspective, overdramatizes personal relationships, and falsifies normal values to an intolerable extent. But in the event, it did turn a large number of inhabitants of the British Isles out of their normal selves. And by dramatizing their lives and making them seem to themselves and to each other clad in the fabulous garments appropriate to a great historic moment. Transformed cowards into brave men and so fulfilled the purpose of shining armor.”
Isaiah Berlin, “Mr. Churchill”
During the terrifying German Blitzkrieg in the autumn of 1940, over 300 German aircraft would raid London in the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing. The Battle of Britain by the German Luftwaffe would last until May of 1941. Paralyzing fear gripped the citizens whenever a bomb whistled. And yet, at the same time, they felt the excitement from the energy that pulsed through wartime London. On the one hand, there was the constant threat of death; on the other, the feeling of elation from having stood tall. It was Churchill himself who remarked, “The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned upon us.” History revealed that it was indeed to be “their finest hour.” And what about us? Can the same be said about the battles and spiritual warfare we are currently engaged in? It can be our finest hour. If we but trust in Him and equip ourselves with His armor.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6.10-11
Now and again ours is a climate in which men do not usually like living. The banality of evil has truly dulled our senses. Stagnated our vigilance. We know not how to advance. We know not how to retreat. A pattern has taken ahold. Desperately trying to maintain control and some semblance of sanity, we become embroiled in a quagmire. Inert. Unable to withstand the onslaught. Destruction is inevitable. Unprepared and personally ill equipped, we simply yield.
There are times in my life where it’s as if I’ve made my mind a sunless space. Hodie mihi, cras tibi. Today it’s me, tomorrow it will be you. Truth be told we cannot escape anxiety. We cannot escape a clutch of fear at our hearts. And yet I hope that the certainty of what we have to meet will make us rise above these fears. We must go about our daily lives more determined than ever to do the ordinary things as well as we can. And when we find a way to do anything more, we must do it. It’s as Emerson once said:
“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
And so the question remains. Are we already prepared for action? For months now, even years for some, the knowledge that something might happen to test their faith has been hanging over their heads. And yet it seemed impossible to believe. Impossible to drop the everyday things of life and realize there was only one thing that was important.
Preparation to meet an enemy no matter wherever and whenever he might strike.
That is all over now. There is no more uncertainty.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6.12-13
Our moral and intellectual universe should encase the whole of the present and the whole of the future in a framework of a rich and multicolored past. A framework given to us through inspiration. From the very mouth of Almighty God. And thus our lives should be dominated by a desire and a capacity to find fixed moral and intellectual bearings, to give shape and character, color and direction and coherence to the stream of events we encounter in life. Saints past, present and future have been engaged in constant warfare. Against the principalities. Against the powers of this dark world. Against the spiritual forces of evil. Battered and bruised from the altercations and assaults, some became wearied. Others lost hope. Many fought on. And overcame.
Every day an invisible war rages around us — unseen, unheard, yet felt throughout every aspect of our lives. A devoted, devilish enemy who seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters. Who seeks to turn us away from the salvation that so eagerly awaits us (Hebrews 9.28). We need to arm ourselves with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left (1 Corinthians 6.7b). Wrapping ourselves with zeal as our mantle.
Prepare ourselves daily for battle. The Adversary doesn’t fight fair. He never has. Recognize we have a great opportunity. There will be high moments in which our strength and our ability will be tested. Have faith. Don’t lose heart.
At when it is ended, will our sword return to its scabbard with honor and respect? Let’s us take heed. For in the darkest of hours we will harbor doubts. Job did. As did Elijah. But do not concede to any weakness. Nor unsteadiness or hesitation. Our God is omniscient. He is omnipotent. Omnipresent.
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
Revelation 17.14
We know what we have to face. And we know we are ready to face it. Remembering, as the proverb writer says:
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Proverbs 30.5b
Whatever has been asked of us, I’m confident we can do. Mightily. Because He is on our side. He is victorious. He reigns. So take refuge in Him.
And fulfill the purpose of the shining armor we have at our disposal.
Transforming cowards into brave men and women.
