The joke goes “ They told me all I needed was a mask and gloves to go shopping. Boy was I embarrassed when everyone else had pants on as well!”
PPE (personal protective equipment) is much on our minds and in the news these days when we need more than pants to go out shopping. In Ephesians 6 Paul lays out our spiritual PPE. I am coming to the conclusion that it is as vital as the physical type, and that too many of us ‘streak’ through life without it in all, or part.
This time of the virus reminds us that what we touch can contaminate us and indeed if we have the virus, what we touch becomes contaminated. In his earthly walk Jesus demonstrated that “He alone could fix this.” His touch of the most contaminated brought wholeness. Rather than having a touch that brought profane contamination, his brought holiness and healing. “One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man (Jesus) said yes to God and put many in the right.” (Romans 5:17 the Message)
At the cross Jesus like the snake in the wilderness was raised up high and through that cross draws men and women, boys and girls back into a relationship with God.
He did not count the cure as being worse than the disease. Indeed, he counted it a joy to be poured out for us. Through his sacrifice we have not just been inoculated against the ravages of sin we have been given new life.
It is this new life we are to treasure and protect and the Armour of Ephesians 6 is the spiritual PPE we require in this mortal life.
Let’s give thanks for the cure that flows from the cross to those who will receive it and as grateful people let us guard and protect ourselves by consciously putting on our full personal protective equipment, in order that we might stand and even stand out in these times.
As people of hope we have the opportunity to be a distinctive people. Arise! Stand in the full Armour of God, and keep prayerful.
Hope & Reedemption 