Bullet Proof Breastplates (Armor of God 2)

Police entering gun battles and soldiers in combat zones wear lifesaving, bullet proof vests.  The chest area contains many of the vital organs. The heart and the lungs are chief among these for sustaining life. Without the protection of the vest, a bullet has the greater potential of piercing one of these vital organs. The result would be devastating to the body. These vests have been improved over the years. They are made of the best material possible at this time. They are to protect from attack and save lives.

As Christians, we will enter battles.  When describing the armor of God, Paul tells us that we should stand ready for these battles. “having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” (Ephesians 6:14b AMP)  Before we ever enter a battle with the spiritual forces of darkness, we must already have the protection around or heart. The righteousness that forms our breastplate is not something that we can work up on our own. It comes by believing.  “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6 ESV)  This statement is made repeatedly concerning Abraham. This righteousness is not credited to anything that he did, but simply that he believed God.  The Scripture tells us that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we have been given His righteousness that leads to freedom and salvation. “For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Romans 5:17–18 ESV)  We obtain this righteousness in the same way that Abraham did. We believe in Jesus Christ and it will be credited to us as righteousness.

Another breastplate is found in the Old Testament.  The priests wore a breastplate when they served in their priestly role. In Exodus 25-28, God gave Moses very specific instructions concerning the breastplate that the priests would wear and how they were to serve. These instructions included the dimensions and materials with which the breastplate was to be designed. This breastplate was to be made of gold. Among the materials to be placed in this breastplate were a variety of precious gems including emerald, sapphires, diamonds, onyx and eight other precious stones.  

The New Testament tells us that we have been made a royal priesthood. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)  As priests of the most, high God, we too, must wear a spiritual breastplate. God has instructed that our breastplate is constructed of the righteousness He has bestowed us through the death of Jesus Christ. Placed in that breastplate of righteousness are many gems and jewels. As we study the word and receive understanding, we uncover gems of the truths that have been hidden. “to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3 ESV)  Each of those revelations will add to the strength of our faith, just as each gem added to the breastplate of the priest.  We will be ready to serve before the Lord.

An officer or soldier who has been hit by a bullet will be saved from death. That does not mean that there will be no harm. There is often severe bruising in the area the bullet has hit the vest. In these times the soldier will be taken aside to a place of rest and recovery. He may be bruised and need this time away, but he will live to fight another day. 

In our battles against spiritual forces and lies of the enemy, we may become bruised and in need of a reprieve. We will need times aside to receive attention from the great physician. By staying close to Jesus and His Word, we too will rise up to stand strong and fight the enemy another day. With our breastplate in place we will not only survive, we will thrive.

 So remember, a bullet proof vest or a breastplate of righteousness must be put on before the battle begins.  Your enemy will not give a time out for you to get ready.  So renew you mind to the righteousness God has provided in Jesus Christ.  Then you will be ready to not only survive the battles, but thrive in the midst of them.  Take courage as you remember that God is righteous. “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” (Psalm 11:7 ESV)  And our righteous God has said, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans14:17 ESV)  You too, can live through every circumstance with that peace and joy!