The Uniform of a Christian (Part I)
The uniform of the Christian Soldier is often times something we do not give a great deal of thought to, but in the words of a Christian man named Gary Antion, it is something we should consider daily. He said "God has issued us His uniform for us to wear. It's the Armor of God - it is the uniform we need to wear as Christians."
Consider for a moment being caught on the battlefield without just one of the pieces of armor God has given us. Daily the war rages around us though the sounds of battle may not be audible or visible to the naked eye. So then, we are reminded to put on the FULL armor of God - daily, so that we may be prepared for whatever the devil dishes out.
The pith helmet or 'Solar Topee' was worn by all ranks in all hot-weather stations of the British Empire. It evolved and had various shapes over the years, with the 'Zulu' Foreign Service.
Being caught NOT wearing this helmet, during daylight hours was a chargeable offense, with the offender being given extra protection from the sun's rays (SPF 'Guardhouse') for several days! Locked up, for simply not wearing his helmet. Why?
A military unit works together. This is where they draw their strength. Equally, a military unit in a combat zone must be prepared at all times for the unknown. Throughout history, stories exist retelling the fate of those who were unprepared and were overrun. In the example above, where a British soldier was punished for not wearing his helmet during daylight hours was done due to the impact the sun could have on the man. Even a little heat exhaustion could impact that soldiers ability to fight in a manner that fully supports the entire contingent.
Today, we face a challenge. This challenge is to be certain, that each morning, we meet the day with the full armor of God. Our fellow soldiers in Christ depend on us to be prepared and to be ready come what may.
The Armor of God
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.