A Winning Strategy

Let’s just say, for the sake of illustration, that you bought a new outfit you really liked, but the next day, you fall into a septic tank while you’re wearing it. Forget about your new outfit. Don’t try to wash it. You’ll just destroy your washing machine. Just let that outfit go.

The apostle Paul used a similar comparison when he wrote, “Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12 NKJV). In other words, get rid of those works of darkness. They smell. They’re toxic and destructive.

I still remember the time that a friend of mine and I were cleaning a houseboat, and he was emptying out the septic tank. He took a direct hit to the face with the contents from that tank. It was brutal.

Boxer Mike Tyson famously said, “Everybody has a plan until they get hit.” In the same way, we can talk tough and say, “I’m not afraid of the devil. I can handle it.” Then we get hit.

In this spiritual battle, it’s not a choice of whether to engage in it. It’s a choice of victory or defeat. A choice of winning or losing.

The Bible tells us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11–12 NKJV).

Maybe this week you’ve gained some ground in the spiritual battle, or maybe you’ve lost some. Maybe you’ve even been beaten up a little. You need to suit up. Put on the armor of God.