January 26

The Christian's armor is made to be worn-- no taking it off until you have finished your course. Your armor and your garment of flesh come off together. Then there will be no more need of shield or helmet, no more late night watches. Those military duties and field graces-- as I may call faith, hope, and the rest-- shall be honorably discharged. In heaven you shall appear, not in armor, but in robes of glory.

Nevertheless, for the present you must wear your assigned suit night and day. You must walk, work, and sleep in it or you are not a true soldier of Christ. Paul set himself a goal: "Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men" (Acts 24:16). Here we see this holy man at his arms, training like a true soldier, his own heart the target range on which he practices all the graces in preparation for battle. We have ample reasons to conduct ourselves in like manner.

For one thing, Christ commands it. He tells us to have our armor on, our grace in action: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning" (Luke 12:35). He speaks as a general to his soldiers: "Oil your armor; light your torch; be ready to march. Prepare to fight at the first alarm of temptation!" Again He speaks, this time as a master to his servants: "If the lord of the manor is called away and the hour of his return uncertain, will a faithful servant bolt the door, douse the fire, and retire? No, he will stand watch through the night, ready to greet the master whenever he comes." Meaning, it is not fit for the Master to stand at our heart's door knocking, and find our graces sleeping.

Every duty of the Christian demands this constant effort. Pray he must, but how? "Without ceasing." Rejoice, but when? "Evermore." Give thanks-- for what? "In everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We must hold our shield of faith and helmet of hope to the very end (Ephesians 6:16-17).

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