When I was in high school I played football. I remember a specific event when a couple of my teammates and I met up at a football game being played by two rival teams. Like I often did I wore my football belt with my jeans (I had to be cool). I met a girl from a rival school and thought she was cute and so I started talking to her. She had a belt much like mine on but it was rainbow colors. Somehow we decided it would be a good idea to trade belts until we saw each other again; we never did. I was left mid-season without a football belt. Turns out you need your football belt to keep your pads together and hold up your pants! I tried to substitute with some other similar belts but eventually had to get a new belt from the equipment coach.
Just as a good belt is part of football equipment, the belt of truth is an important piece of our spiritual armor. It is the piece that ties the other elements of spiritual armor together. Without truth we are left with loose armor and our spiritual pants falling down. We must therefore identify the belt of truth so that we can put it on and be ready to stand against all spiritual attacks.
So what is truth? In John 14:6 Jesus said that He was the truth. It is important that we note here that Jesus did not say He was “a” truth (an indirect article) He stated He was “the” truth (a direct article) meaning He was the one and only truth. It is no wonder that Paul listed the belt of truth as the first piece of the armor of God. All of the other pieces (righteousness, faith, salvation etc.) are built upon the fact that Jesus is the truth. Without the truth the other pieces have no hope to hold together and withstand the spiritual battle. Therefore, it is important that we firmly believe Jesus is “the” truth and seek to follow His example and will for our lives. Let us then go with honesty and integrity and share the truth that is Jesus Christ.
Have you been wearing your belt lately? Or have you drifted away from the truth? The satan will attempt to make you believe there are many truths. I will tell you right now that other gods or good works will not do; neither will the belief that Jesus is one of many ways. If you want to be prepared for spiritual battle you must first be rooted and grounded in the truth that is Jesus Christ; there is no other truth!
Pray
Holy God You are truth! I know that there is no other way to have a relationship with You but through Your son Jesus. Help me Lord today as satan tries to water down the truth that I will not stand for it. Give me the grace to boldly and with all gentleness share the truth with others. Help me that I may always be ready to give an answer for my hope in Jesus Christ. I desire Lord to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the truth so that I may have a closer walk with You and extinguish all doubt. Prepare the hearts of those that I will share the truth with so that they will be ready to accept You! In Jesus name I ask and pray, Amen.
