The Girdle Of Truth

by HYLAND, D. T. | Category: Battle Briefing | Mar 1994

Paul's letter to the Ephesians has been aptly summed up as describing the wealth, walk and warfare of the believer. Towards the end of his letter he reminds his readers that commitment to discipleship will involve them in spiritual conflict against demonic agencies characterized by wickedness (Eph. 6:10-20). There will be no cessation of hostilities with these evil powers until the end of earthly life or the Lord's second advent. Thankfully, God has provided the armour to enable the believer to be equipped for spiritual warfare; He has absolute knowledge of our spiritual adversaries. The malignant forces of evil can be effectively faced only when there has been a response to the exhortation to "take up" and "put on" the armour which God makes available.

The armour, or panoply, is listed in a description drawn from the equipment worn by a Roman soldier in a state of readiness for battle. The first piece of armour which Paul lists is the girdle of truth. He encourages the Ephesians, "Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth". The Roman soldier's girdle or belt was usually made of leather; it gathered his tunic together and held the sheath for his sword. Holding other pieces of armour in place, it gave the soldier freedom of movement, ensuring he was not impeded by loose ends when marching. In biblical times, girding up the loins implied preparation for action; it signified a state of physical alertness. Peter exhorts his readers to gird up "the loins of your mind"; this implies a state of mental and spiritual readiness.

In his first contact with Eve, Satan was revealed to be a liar and a deceiver. Satan said, "You will not surely die", in defiance of the fact that God had clearly said they would if they took of the forbidden fruit. Eve believed the lie, and since the fall the natural mind prefers darkness to light. One of Satan's methods is to induce men and women to accept the counterfeit by blinding their minds against the entrance of the truth.

The believer must have a totally different set of standards of truth from those common in the world today. When Paul speaks of truth as a girdle, no doubt one aspect of truth to which he is referring is the sense of integrity and sincerity; if there is hypocrisy or pretence there will be failure. Of the believer God desires "truth in the inward parts" (Psalm 51:6). The aim should be to speak truth and act honestly.

The Master we are called to follow is the personal embodiment of truth; He could say, "I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). One of the purposes of His coming into the world was to bear witness to the truth. This led Him to Calvary.

HYLAND, D. T. | Mar 1994
Battle Briefing