Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist… Ephesians 6:13-14

Seeking help to stand firm the other day, I turned to Ephesians 6. I had to ponder on the belt* of truth for a while. What truth is that? Is it my perspective of the events and people in question? I don’t think so. As much as I am convinced of my own accuracy, I have to admit I am fallible! So perhaps this doesn’t mean I need to insist that others hear my assessment of the facts. Instead, I am reminded of The Truth, the abiding truth in God’s Word. That will be the only truth that I rely on to keep me from stumbling so that I can stand.

*We can imagine wearing baggy pants without a belt. The pants might fall down causing stumbling as well as embarrassment! However, people didn’t wear pants in Paul’s day; men usually wore a loose tunic. Why does he use the metaphor of a belt of truth? A belt was an essential piece of equipment for a Roman soldier. First of all, for a soldier in battle, a loose tunic would be inconvenient and potentially hazardous. Before battle, he would tuck the tunic into his belt so he would be ready to move unhindered. Additionally, the belt held his scabbard which held his sword so he would be armed and equipped to do his work. So, having the belt of truth buckled around my waist means I am ready for action; without it, I am not prepared to do what God call me to do.