Today Al, Valerie, and I walked the canal downtown after an enjoyable breakfast at LePeep's. I really enjoy their battered french toast so the 80-minute stroll in front of the NCAA Headquarters up to New York Street and back was very much needed. We only paused to study the Medal of Honor recipients. Curious, I wanted to know why they received it. According to Wikipedia, the Medal of Honor is awarded for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States."
Since mankind's enemy is Satan, our battle requires a similar sacrifice, one that Jesus paid for dearly on the cross with his blood. Somehow I'm not seeing Jesus wearing a medal of honor, but I do see him someday wearing many crowns, eyes blazing with fire, seated on a valiant white horse leading the armies of heaven [Revelation 19:12-14]. Until then he's given us tools of defense against evil, against our spiritual enemy, the devil.
Paul, in his logical summary to the saints in Ephesus [Ephesians 6:10-18], uses great transitional words and phrases like: finally, therefore, then, in addition to, and, with this in mind. But the power in his logic comes from its overall message. God has given us all the armor we need to defend ourselves: the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the gospel of peace; the shield of faith; and the helmet of salvation. Praise God we can outfit ourselves in full armor against the enemy.
The Medal of Honor
