What is faith? Our world in this age of “enlightenment” has so twisted its meaning that the typical person has no real idea of what it is. To most, it’s a feeling. It means wishing for something extremely hard. It means putting your confidence in something, gritting your teeth, hoping it won’t fail. It’s no wonder so many people have “lost faith” in everything from their political heroes to their favorite sports icons.
Many believers have endeavored to define faith. Of course, the best Bible dictionary is the Bible itself, and we need look no further than Hebrews 11:1 to find God’s definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Clearly faith is more profound than just a feeling; it is substantial. Knowing our inadequacy to comprehend even this concise definition, the Lord graciously provided an entire chapter of real, historical examples of faith on display. Indeed, the entire volume of Scripture is full of people who exhibited faith.
Beyond this clear definition and numerous named examples, the Lord has given us one more method of understanding the intangible: by picture. As part of the armor of God, faith is likened to a shield (Eph. 6:16) that can be used to drive back the onslaught of the enemy. Let us consider briefly both the attack and the defense.
THE ATTACK
The Threat is Serious: To begin, we need to be reminded of the seriousness of the attack against us. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that the battle we face daily is not physical, but spiritual. The Lord Jesus warned us not to be concerned with the physical, but rather the spiritual predator (Mt. 10:28). Daniel 6 gives evidence of a very real battle that was being fought in a spiritual realm, the magnitude of which not even Daniel was aware. It would be a grave tactical error on our part to take this sphere lightly. The spiritual warfare is every bit as dangerous to a Christian as any physical danger, and should not be discounted.
The Attack is Coordinated: Twice in Ephesians 6 (vv. 11, 13), we are encouraged to employ “the whole armor of God.” The devil is expressly mentioned as our foe (v. 11). However, we know there is a conflict against the world and the flesh as well. In verse 16, we’re told that we will be assaulted with “all the fiery darts of the wicked.” “The wicked” in this case is not only a reference to the devil, but to all manner of wickedness, from wherever it may stem. And we are assured that there is not only one dart to contend with; there are many. If there were a single focus, we might be content with less, or more specific armor. But the enemy is astute. As a result, a calculated, coordinated attack is launched, and the Christian will have to defend many fronts, making use of all of the armor.
The Weapon is Precise and Deadly: The only weapon of the enemy mentioned specifically for us in this chapter is the dart. We might think of it as an arrow or a javelin—an object that is thrown in such a way as to inflict harm. And let us not take its danger lightly. These are not the darts we enjoy in our basements at a family reunion. The “wiles of the devil” (v. 11) are not comical, practical jokes meant to cause a snicker. These darts are “fiery,” making them particularly destructive and searing to the Christian. This weapon is accurate and it is deadly. In 2 Kings 9:24 it was an arrow that was able to find its way around the armor, between the arms, and into the heart of Joram to slay him. We would do well to remember that these darts are not thrown at random; they are precise, intended not only to wound, but to destroy. We don’t often face a wide-ranging attack, devised to level large areas. Rather, it is a more calculated, measured approach. But let us make no mistake: it is not lacking in potency!
THE DEFENSE
The Defense is Appropriate: Having considered the enemy’s tactics, one might feel disheartened or apprehensive. The danger is certainly considerable. However, the Lord has abundantly equipped His soldiers to deal with this attack. Specifically, the shield of faith is an undeniably important component of the armor of God. In fact, the entire battle centers on faith. The Scriptures would exhort us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12).
We realize that the attack will be coordinated. The shield is not used in isolation. It is to be taken up in addition to the rest of the armor listed. The other pieces (the helmet, the breastplate, etc.) would serve defensive purposes as well. These sections are so closely associated that they are spoken of somewhat interchangeably. Indeed, we not only have the shield of faith, but also the “breastplate of faith” (1 Thess. 5:8). The attack is coordinated; so the armor must be comprehensive enough to protect against this multi-faceted attack.
The weapon used against the Christian soldier is precise and deadly. But the shield of faith allows us to block the darts launched against us. Other defensive pieces would provide a certain measure of safety for attacks that are launched unsuspectingly. We won’t always know where the ambush is coming from. But a well-placed arrow can find a way through or around our “inactive” armor. The shield is primarily beneficial when we know where the arrow is coming from and are prepared to use it effectively. It is not a passive defense, but an active one.
The application of these points is clear. As we march through the battlefield, we will be ambushed by temptation and sin. We are protected by our helmet (salvation), breastplate (righteousness), and belt (truth) to a certain extent in these circumstances. However, when we’re conscious of the attack, and we know the temptation that is upon us, the shield of faith is most effective. It is a precise defense against a precise attack.
The Defense is Strong: The beauty of the shield of faith is that when employed properly, it completely quenches the enemy’s darts. There is no ricochet, no grazing or wounding; the fiery darts are extinguished. Not only so, but it defends against all shapes and sizes of darts. Faith is required every step of the way. As temptation rears its ugly head, faith wards it off. When doubts and fears arise, faith subdues them. When the fiery darts of tribulation speed toward us, the shield of faith quenches them all. And what of the arrows of discouragement, loss, tragedy, or mourning? They are all repelled by faith. We are justified by faith. We are sanctified by faith. We have access to God by faith. We walk by faith. We live by faith. And in the end, it is by faith we will stand (2 Cor. 1:24).
Displaying faith is effortless in trouble-free times. It is during times of war that our faith is tested and must remain strong. How many times has a young Christian soldier seen a veteran fight through the battlefield of life, besieged from every side, and come through rejoicing? They’ve seen the example of faithful Christians who have been called to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). They have witnessed those who have been tried, and whose faith has stood strong. And as younger believers have seen the reality of faith lived out in others before them, they too can march through the battle by faith.
Our faith can only be strong because the Object of our faith is immovable. The work of Christ is finished. And so our faith is firmly grounded. The cross of the Lord Jesus is not only sufficient to save us from sin and judgment, but to pilot us through the on-going battle. He is our Commander and Chief. He is the Captain of our Salvation. All others will disappoint, but when the Almighty God leads us into battle, we have One who is abundantly worthy of our faith. What confidence this gives!
The Counter-Attack: The most skilled combatants used all of their armor to its fullest potential. Of course, the sword was the primary offensive weapon. The sword was in one hand, but the shield was in the other. And in the heat of the battle, the great warriors would have used both in an offensive way. The shield would allow them not only to absorb the blows and the darts of the enemy, but also to charge forward in counter-attack.
So often it is the case with us. Although much of the armor we are provided with focuses on defense and standing firm, we realize that the Christian’s lot isn’t just to hold on in the face of danger until we eventually triumph in the end, but rather to press forward and take new ground. Faith is what helps us go forth. Let us “cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:12). Let us follow the example of those of old “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in the fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens…of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:33-38). And let us set our own example for others to follow.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is the victory!
—John H. Yates