Armor of Light

The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Ro 13:12-14, NASB95)

When we think of armor, what usually comes to mind is something thick, strong, and heavy- something that would be a good protector.  We would expect that it would be able to withstand a bullet, knife, or powerful impact.  So when we imagine an armor consisting of light, it makes no sense, unless we think a little deeper.

In the warfare between darkness and light, light wins every time. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn 1:1-5, ESV)

Our battle is not a physical battle, but a moral, and a spiritual one.  When we receive Christ as Savior and Lord we have a new enemy- a mortal one.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (Jn 10:10)

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Pet 5:8)

So, it makes a lot of sense to put on the armor of light, as we read in Romans 13:12.  So what, exactly, does it mean to put on this armor?  Well Paull gives some good advice in this section:

 

1. We are to behave as we would in the daytime.  Things like "carousing and drunkenness, sexual promiscuity and sensuality" tend to occur at night, under the cover of darkness.  We were formerly in the kingdom of darkness but now we have been transferred into the kingdom of light.  We are to leave behind our former way of life.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)

 

2. We must put aside "strife and jealousy". We must give more attention to things other than the obvious external sins which are so common in the flesh.  There are also fleshly attitudes that must be put away.  Darkness can affect the interior of our lives as well as the exterior.  We are to walk as children of light.

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. (Eph 5:8-10)

 

3. Moral excellence is closely associated with walking in the light.  Paul describes goodness, righteousness, and truth as fruit of the light.  Much like the fruit of the Spirit, these qualities are a biproduct of a close personal walk with Christ.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

 

4. We are told to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ". It is obvious from Romans 13:12-14 that putting on Christ is another way of saying "put on the armor of light".  In both cases we are encouraged to live under the guidance and protection of the Lord.  We walk by faith.  We trust Jesus Christ moment by moment.  We rely on His love and forgiveness, His power and protection. We lay aside deeds of darkness and walk in the light.

 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 Jn 1:5-7)

 

5. The final section of Romans 13 reminds us "make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."  This is extremely helpful advice as we seek to walk in the light.  Some sins cling more tightly than others.  Even after confessing and repenting of sin, we may find ourselves returning to those same sins.  At times it may feel like an impossible task to live in the light.  When Paul says "make no provision" it reminds us that some sin patterns are triggered by tangible temptations that draw is in.  Others are provoked by memories of past sins, sights, sounds, smells, etc.  If we discover anything in our lives that elicits strong temptation, we should get rid of it immediately.  I could list some examples, but I'm  sure you understand.

Remember, our battle is moral and spiritual.  God has given us all the resources we need in Christ.  We should put on the armor of light and turn from the deeds of darkness.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Eph 6:10-13)

 

Unless otherwise noted all passages in this post were taken from The New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).