BY APOSTLE KATHY WILLIAMS
To say that a person is “all dressed up and nowhere to go” is an old expression implying that a person has planned for an event that doesn’t happen. Using that as our foundational thought, let’s take another look at a common dilemma for believers in their attempt to apply the Ephesians instruction about putting on our armor. The pieces of the armor can be recited by small children, has been the prop to countless Sunday School lessons, is the subject of songs and jingles, and has a plethora of pulpit messages attached to it. The armor has been the theme of Vacation Bible School, Women’s Retreats, and ministry training schools. It has become an outfit to be purchased in Christian bookstores or can be made from cardboard covered by aluminum foil. If we “google” the phrase armor of God, there are 12,700,000 results that appear in .030 seconds. The first picture in the images search is a man’s tattooed arms and chest. It would be a lifetime study for any of us to explore the nearly 13 million articles which does not include increase in studies if we searched for each piece by name, e.g. helmet of salvation. Most of us have likely been in a prayer meeting where we walked through the motions of putting on the armor. The nagging question is, “What have been the results of us putting on the armor?” which circles us back around to the title.
Too many Christian believers are all dressed up with nowhere to go. It may or may not be their fault, but the truth is discussions of fault are generally not productive. Let’s lay that aside and focus collectively on how we can improve in achieving results. Isn’t that ultimately what Jesus’ ministry was all about? He was results-oriented. No wonder that He had the constant ability to talk about His relationship with His Father. He said that He came to glorify His Father. He said that He did nothing without the Father. He said that He and His Father were one. He said that He wished we were more like He and His Father. A chief characteristic that Jesus displayed demonstrating His lineage is being results oriented. Let’s go all the way back to Genesis where God began speaking, “Let there be . . . and there was . . . (Genesis 1:3).” Jesus’ ministry reflected the Father’s speaking ability, “Lazarus, come forth . . . (John 11:43).” Jesus said, “. . . be whole . . . (Mark 5:34).” Again and again, we can find examples of how closely Jesus mirrored the Father’s results-oriented speaking. It begs the question, “What happens when we speak?” Maybe it first begs the question, “What does that have to do with how this article started?” I am glad you asked!
ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO