Your waistline

Each day we live we find that there is struggles and joys; hardships and heart-filled moments. In essence the daily grind of life easily pulls you off track from what is right, honest and true. Society models that as long as it’s not on the nightly news it’s ok to do whatever you would like. As the words to a popular song once said, “if it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.” I have found that it sure can be bad, that my standard is not good enough to navigate what proper truth is in which to live by.

The Apostle Paul says “having girded your waist with truth”… The first piece of equipment he describes is the belt of truth. The Roman Legion belt was first known as balteus, later it became known as cingulum militare, they were the mark of a solider, common citizens did not wear the distinct belt of a legion. On the belt would the gladius or sword, fastened to the belt, which also kept the tunic and armor in place. The distinct medal studded strips of leather, was unique to the legions belt. The belt allowed kept the equipment in place, the same way truth keeps the spiritual weapons in place. Truth means what is real, as opposed to what is not real or false. The New Testament rests on the reality of Jesus, Jesus makes this point very clear in John.

“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

On the identity of Jesus, the whole armor of God described here in Ephesians rests. This is an important point, because many cults have a “Jesus” as part of their faith. However, the “Jesus” they have is a false Jesus, not the biblical Jesus. So without the truth, they are without any armor, and still in Satan’s grasp. The same is true for each believer, without a constant diet of partaking of Jesus’ truth and the word of God it we will be vulnerable and fall. What things in your life are dishonest and shady? Confess them today and get assistance with the word of God and other believers and start right each day in truth.