The Bible lists for us what we call the "armor of God." This armor, found in Ephesians 6, is very precious and important for our daily walk in the Lord. Ephesians 6:14-18 tells us,
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."
One of the pieces listed there is a piece of footwear called the "preparation of the gospel of peace." Other versions call it the "sandals of the Gospel of peace." We might not realize it, but this piece of armor is very, very important.
Just how important are the sandals of the Gospel of peace, and what do they do for us?
Full protection
Many of us realize the importance of the armor pieces that cover the upper half of the body, forgetting that the lower half of the body needs protection too. The sandals of the Gospel do that, and more.
The sandals of the Gospel of peace offer for us more than just full protection; they provide a secure footing, safely wherever we go, and allow us to go places where we can't go. Let's go over these in detail.
1) Secure footing
People who use specialized footwear for their profession or hobbies know the importance of good footwear. Mountaineering boots are best for mountainous, alpine areas; approach shoes are perfect for rock scrambles; and trail runners are great for fast hikes. These shoes provide protection for the feet and a firm grip on various terrain.
Standing on the Gospel allows us to have a secure footing, no matter what we face in life. When we are shaken by problems, we know that Christ has overcome. When we sin, we know that we can approach God and ask for His forgiveness. When we go through bad times, we know that nothing can separate God's love from us in Christ.
2) Safety wherever we go
The Gospel is our security wherever we go. Psalm 23:4 tells us,
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Such is the confidence that a person who stands in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has. Because of what He has done for us, we who believe in Him are eternally secured as we follow Him no matter where He leads us.
3) The ability to go places
Lastly, wearing tough shoes gives us confidence that we can take on any terrain and not be hurt. Work boots, for example, allow us to step on slippery surfaces or hard, rocky ground with no fear of falling down or getting hurt.
In the same way, when we wear the sandals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be more than just confident to go places in obedience to God - we will never fear whatever comes our way because He has already defeated the enemy and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Such is the confidence of the person who stands on the truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.
