Belt Of Truth Series

BELT OF TRUTH

Major William Martin never knew the great contribution that he made during the Second World War, especially to the allied success in Italy. He was a British officer who died and was buried on the southern coast of Spain. He never fired a single shot. William Martin died of pneumonia in the foggy dampness of England before he ever saw the battle front. The Allies had invaded North Africa. The next logical step was Sicily. Knowing the Germans calculated this, the Allies determined to outfox them. One dark night, an Allied submarine came to the surface just off the coast of Spain and put Martin's body out to sea in a rubber raft with an oar. In his pocket were secret documents indicating the Allied forces would strike next in Greece and Sardinia. Major Martin's body washed ashore, and Axis intelligence operatives soon found him, thinking he had crashed at sea. They passed the secret documents through Axis hands all the way to Hitler's headquarters. So while Allied forces moved toward Sicily, thousands and thousands of German troops moved on to Greece and Sardinia--where the battle wasn't. Satan works with more cunning than even the Allied plan, getting us to fight many temptations in places where the real battle isn't. To stand against him we need to know his plans and be ready to fight him.

Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place

This passage says that we are to tie up all the loose ends of our lives and hold it in place with a belt of truth. In battle the belt was used to hold the flowing garments of the day. In today’s military terminology the belt of truth would be a holster – it holds your essentials in place.

1 Pet 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Truth is the way we fight against error. The first step to resisting the father of lies is to base your life on the truth which is found in the word of God. The foundation of your life must be solid or you are in trouble from the beginning. Knowing who and what you are in Jesus Christ is the first step. E.g. alcoholic - admitting that you have a problem is the first step.

The way to destroy a lie is with the truth. Satan seeks to oppose this by making truth relative or by mixing truth into every lie. Subjective truth means that something can be true for me but not true for you. Truth becomes something irrelevant. In other words it doesn’t really matter what you believe, as long as you believe in something.

Objective truth means that truth is truth no matter what else you might think. What is true is true for everyone. Truth is truth whether you believe it or not. It means that 1 plus 1 will always equal 2. At the trial of Jesus Pilate asked Jesus “what is truth”, and it is a good question. What is truth? The dictionary says that truth is that which is fact, reality, accurate or genuine. The word for truth used is the Greek word ALETHEIA which comes from A (not) and LANTHANO (hidden, secret or ignorant). In other words, truth means that which has been revealed. Ultimately, truth is only found in God.

Our human reasoning alone isn't enough to discern truth from error. The best protection against deception is to know God's revealed truth, the Bible. -- Ruth E. Van Reken

A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a cardinal without it. -- Martin Luther

John 8:43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." 48 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" 49 "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." 57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" 58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"