Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
Ephesians 6:14
Truth is essential to battle! This is the first piece of warfare that Paul talks about in Ephesians…If you don’t have the truth…then you are susceptible to defeat every time. We must remember that the content of God’s truth is absolutely essential for the believer in his battle against the schemes of Satan.
Without knowledge of biblical teaching, you are, as the apostle had already pointed out in previous chapters, subject to being “tossed about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness.”
In battle – they want to know the truth about the enemy…they want to know where he is at, what he is doing and what he has for weaponry. Having the truth is incredibly important to one’s livelihood. Without it, you will not succeed.
Some years ago a young Jewish man from the United States decided to go to Israel and live. After working there for two years he was required either to serve in the army for a given period of time or to return home. He decided to join the army. His father was a good friend of an Israeli general, who at first was afraid the young man would use that friendship to secure an easy, safe assignment. Instead, he went to the general and said, “My present duty is too easy. I want to be in the finest, most strategic, diligent, and difficult regiment in the Israeli army.” Commenting on that spirit of dedication, the general said, “People think Israelis are so successful at war because we are a super people or that we have super intellect or super strength. But our success is not built on any of those things; it is built on commitment, unreserved and sacrificial commitment.”
Are you committed to the truth? If you are, it will be evidenced by your belief. You will start winning the battle of temptation and will quench the fiery assault of the wicked one! It’s not easy…it takes work…but we must remember that winning battles is a direct result of realizing the importance of one word…truth!