For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (6:15)[1]
The soldier’s footwear is obviously needed for mobility. If the soldier is restricted in his movements from place to place, or unstable on his feet in an engagement with his enemy, or if he is distracted wondering how he will stay upright in the tussle because his footwear is inadequate, then victory will be in question. Sometimes he will have to run towards the enemy, sometimes away from the enemy to gain a new battle vantage point, sometimes he will have to stand his ground in close-in combat. This kind of maneuvering is not done on a finely manicured football field, but more likely on rocky, uneven hills and desert and caves. Sufficient shoes are necessary for the soldier to be prepared for the battle, with any hope of being successful.
What is the spiritual weapon described with footwear that prepares us for the struggle? Peace.
This term ‘peace’ is used to reflect wholeness with God. We are at peace with him, not struggling, not running out of his grasp. Not trying to find our own way. But we reside in God’s care. He surrounds us with his grasp and love, and our life is complete, because he is with us, providing us with all we need.
Thus, we are not panicked, wringing our hands, residing in the state of give-up, and thinking we are going to lose. We are at peace because victory is secured, and abundant life is ours! God has provided what’s needed. Paul says that this wholeness originates with the Good News.
The Good News is that Jesus has conquered sin and death, and enabled a way for people to return to right relationship with God. This is the peace that comes from the Good News. We don’t have to struggle to find a way to be right with God. We aren’t going down a list of things to see if one of them might work. The Good News proclaims that this way has been found and is available. Peace is ours! We are at peace with God, and he blesses us with the peace of God—the peace that He gives to his people.
That’s the armor we stand in during the struggle the Enemy brings to us.
The Enemy’s actions bring the opposite of peace. He is a master-disturber. He is intent on trying to get us to believe that peace is not available. He proclaims: “The Good News is actually Bad News—because you have believed a lie, and yes, you certainly should be miserable as a result of following a phony gospel taught by a phony teacher and teaming up with a bunch of phonies who believe the same phony thing! Peace?! Are you kidding? Run for the hills! Look out for numero uno. No one else will. Shoes? Yes, you will need shoes for running and hiding. You won’t experience any peace while wearing them as you run through the obstacle course and wilderness trying your best to find refuge. Watch your step! God’s Good News Lie has been exposed, and your life is filled with chaos and Bad News waiting to happen—and there’s no one who can help, no place that is safe. It’s really awful about how all this turned out. Good thing that shoes are available—hope you are a fast runner, and outrun all the bad things that are coming your way. Good luck!”
We expose the Enemy for who he is—a liar. And we expose him for what he does—he tries to convince the followers of Jesus Christ that life is found outside of Jesus, that it has no meaning, and that there is certainly no peace available for us. That he lies with his pronouncement that, “The battle is raging! Terror is an obvious and great response on your part!”
The imagery from Isaiah (52:7) of a messenger bringing Good News fits here in this meditation:
“How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”
Wherever
we go, God’s peace is available to us, the peace that is ours because of the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That is Good News, and we have new life and peace
with God because of it.“Father, thank you for the Good News! When the Enemy comes against us in
his carefully crafted lies and maneuvers and disruptions, may we not be shaken.
May we be at peace, aware that you are with us and take care of us. Not with a
peace that the world gives, but with the peace that you give, and the peace
that you provide as we stand steadfast in you.”
[1] The New Living Translation also has this footnote for the verse: “For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.”
Freddy Boswell 