Armor of Light

"Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 8:12b

At first glance it seems rather nonsensical to use the words "armor" and "light" in connection with the same thing. The former is solid and heavy as can be. The latter is, as far as physicists can derive, either a wave or a particle in any case less than solid.

In this case, however, the Apostle is enjoining you to be adorned with the light which is Christ; the same Christ who spoke with the Father at creation and said "let there be light" and Who is now risen from the dead having made atonement for your sin.

He serves as armor because He preserves you in the Faith, keeping you from entertaining and acting upon thoughts that would draw you away from Him who loves you with an everlasting love. This Christ, Who is the Light of the World, has no other business than to save you from the darkness of sin and death.

For this reason, His righteousness, applied to you in every way He bespeaks it, serves as protection against evil lusts and their consequences. It even absolves you as the life of repentant faith carries on from one day to the next.

Repentant faith does not take up the deeds of darkness, but rejects them and lays them aside. At the same time, it is mindful of how Christ Jesus is going the full measure from start to finish, by way of His passion and resurrection and preaching, to bring you into a blessed eternity.

The Apostle calls upon you with urgency to do this, because the work of redemption for all of creation in Christ Jesus has taken place precisely as God foretold through the prophets: by the Seed of the Woman who defeats sin, death, and the devil.

How are you going to put on this armor of light? By daily contrition and faith, all wrought by your Creator who has baptized you into His Name and very being.

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All Things Through and For Christ

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.

What are you chasing after? Why are you chasing it? What are you trying to earn? Who are you trying to impress?

Stop and consider for a moment how everything — literally everything — has been created through and for Christ Jesus. There is no object of creation that is outside or beyond His domain. He is both the agent and recipient of all that exists. There is no place to hide either from Him or from His creation.

If anything, this ought to put into sure and clear perspective whatever it is you are trying to do in this life. Your place is not to chase after things, or to impress others. Not even God is impressed with your efforts.

Upon closer examination, however, consider that this same Christ Jesus has taken your nature upon Himself so that He might also receive you and thereby save you from all that would harm you both now and forever. That means your place is to live under Him in His kingdom, serving your neighbor with all you are and have while giving thanks to Him at all times and in all places.

Yet your place in life is often full of hurt and sorrow. These, too, are under His domain, created through Him and for Him, not because He enjoys hurt and sorrow, but He is the beginning and the end of these things, too. These He has taken fully upon Himself, just as He has the sin of the world.

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Peace, False and True

"They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace."

This can be said of anyone who does not apprehend and preach the Word of God in its truth and purity, as well as those who refuse to hear it, because true peace is only where the enmity between God and man is satisfied, and that satisfaction is only in the crucified and risen Christ Jesus, whose life and benefits are openly and freely proclaimed and distributed to all who walk through the valley of the shadow of death with fear and trembling.

To make the Word of God into a book of rules for self-justification is to offer only superficial peace. To ignore the Commandments as if they were merely the utterances of misguided goat herders is even worse.

Peace is found nowhere else than through faith in Christ Jesus, whose righteousness avails before God for all people throughout all ages. This faith takes hold of peace where it is given abundantly and concretely: Baptism, Supper, and the word of forgiveness. This faith, like creation itself, is neither for sale nor for self-improvement, but is poured out abundantly from Above, like springs in the desert.

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