10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10–13
In this obviously military picture, Paul twice uses the word verb “to stand.” Within the vocabulary of ancient warfare, the warrior who was able to stand, was the one who had been
victorious in battle. When it was all over, he was still standing, as over against those who had fallen and perished.(E.g. Psalm 20:6-9)If you will allow me some poetic license and imagination, I’d like to put some emotional flesh on these spiritual bones.
I picture the carnage at the end of a great and ferocious medieval battle with many from both armies lying fallen, dead, or mortally wounded. But as the dust clears and the clamor of war ceases there stand a few survivors, drenched in sweat, splattered with blood, panting in exhaustion, bruised and wounded but still victorious. And in my mind’s eye I picture them surveying the mayhem. These are the ones who came through the battle and managed to stand. Paul is saying equip yourselves with the things that are the spiritual equivalent of the armor, so that you can be one of those still standing when the battle is over.
And afterward? If there is joy and rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, then what must there be when a child of God actually arrives home, having stood through the onslaught of the battle? In my mind’s eye I picture we who have stayed standing in the great spiritual battle, entering the new heaven and the new earth that the Lord has created. I see celebration, and shouts of victory and laughter, hugs and slaps on the back, and dancing for joy and relief. (I think of scenes like those in the original Star Wars movie with the victorious, surviving pilots clamoring down from their X-Wings at the rebel outpost after the destruction of the Death Star.) I imagine stories of battles won and narrow escapes and valiant rescues by the King and fellow warriors. And I see great celebration, feasting at the table of the King. War, sickness, death, pain, and tears are now gone forever! There will be joyous relief as we meet up with friends once again who themselves have come through the battle victorious and are now safe for all time.
And then I picture one last scene. I see friends meeting up with an old friend in the new creation and asking, “What about Joe? Have you seen him yet?” And then the reply after a long pause and downcast eyes; “Joe didn’t make it.”
Surely the prospect of victory and the catastrophe of failure moved Paul to say:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”