God’s Wardrobe.
There is a collection of Paul's letters commonly referred to as his ‘Prison Epistles’.
These prison epistles are ‘Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.’ They are called the prison epistles because, in all of them, Paul mentions that he is in prison. The exact date is tricky but we think that is somewhere between 60 and 62 AD.
Paul has a Roman soldier to guard him but other than that he is free to receive visitors and to spread the gospel to anyone who will listen.
Today’s second lesson is from one of those ‘prison epistles’. His letter to the Ephesians. It is quite a well-known piece where St. Paul is trying to teach his Ephesian friends about putting on the whole armour of God.
I speculate that Paul found himself looking at his Roman guard, in the soldier’s attire and his equipment. And maybe his thought processes went something like this.
Why is all this battle gear? Why is there a necessity for the breastplate and shield? And where did this angst, and argy bargy come from?
Paul realises that the problem of enmity one with another, does not come from the Roman soldier per se. The germ of antagonism is unseen and not discernible to the naked eye. The problem lies much deeper than under the soldier's breastplate. The necessity for this clobber comes from something deep within. So St. Paul put it this way.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
To use a slightly more modern parable the uniformed soldiers of the Second World War were not the reason for the war. The reasons for war were formed deeper in people’s hearts and minds, not in the clothes and medals that the combatants wore.
If we are honest all of us have sensed something of that struggle-some warfare deep within us. We know what the right thing is and it's going to be difficult and have consequences. Wouldn’t it be easier if I just surreptitiously…. surely no one would ever know and what harm would it do?
And even things that in and of themselves are good can gradually take up more space, time, and energy than they should. They infringe on and take over more important things. There are the days and nights when we are keenly aware of this struggle and there are times when we win and there are times when we confess that we are fallible and have given way.
St. Paul is honest about his own struggles. In his letter to those pesky Ephesians he uses the parable of his guards outward, visible clobber and equipment to talk about the things we need for our ongoing, invisible, indiscernible and continuous battles. To explain further I’ll use some words which someone else wrote. I draw your attention to the way they begin each section with the words ‘I choose…’ We must continuously choose to put on this inner wardrobe of God.
“I choose to put on the belt of truth. I choose to live today by what is true; not by what I feel. My emotions are fickle but the truth never changes. And the truth is that I am chosen, loved, and forgiven, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. The truth is that I have a purpose and a calling. The truth is there’s someone for me to love and encourage today.
I choose to put on the breastplate of righteousness. My righteousness does not come from me; it comes from you. I choose to live how you see me as a child who is infinitely precious.
I choose to put on the sandals of the gospel of peace. You desire for me to live in peace as I walk in my calling. My schedule is now in your hands, and I will not be hurried or rushed today, regardless of what happens. I will try to be a calming, stable, and steady presence everywhere I go.
I choose to put on the helmet of salvation. I know that my thoughts can be distracting and unhelpful. They are wayward and not organised. Help me to harness and focus them. Help me to bring them back and align them with your will for me and your world.
I choose to pick up the shield of faith, ready to take ground for the Kingdom. Temptations, criticism and storms are on the horizon, but with this shield I claim victory out loud and ahead of time, knowing you are going before me. I know that faith pleases you, and heaven and earth are full of your glory. And so today, I believe there’s nothing you can’t do in my life and through my life. I choose to take up the sword of the Spirit. Your Word is a double-edged sword that will teach me, guide me, discipline me and comfort me. As I go now about my day, help to realise that you are walking alongside me. I choose your wardrobe God… not mine. Today, I’ll be ready.”