Goldfish in the Morgue Devotional
Day 7 - Put on the P.P.E. of God! (Ephesians 6: 10-17)
Put on the P.P.E. of God!
Scripture Passage: Ephesians 6:10-17
Focal Verse: Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ~ Ephesians 6:11
On some of the worst death scenes imaginable, medicolegal death investigators are often required to ‘suit up’! P.P.E. (personal protective equipment) is the name of the game when biohazards or toxic chemicals are at play in a scene. Even when a scene is somewhat pristine, if there’s the slightest trace of loose Fentanyl lying around that could be touched and absorbed through bare skin or inhaled through powder, the savvy investigator will dress accordingly. In essence, we dress not because we expect something bad to happen, but merely to be prepared if it does.
What P.P.E. is needed depends on the individual case. Some merely require protective gloves. Some require a mask (or even a respirator). And still others involve the full spectrum: mask, gloves, Tyvek suits, aprons, non-slip steel-toed boots…and I’m going to add ‘flashlight’ to the mix as well (because they keep us from stumbling in the dark and landing on something dangerous). All of these things, as loathe as most of us are to wear them, are essential in keeping us safe while letting us stride confidently into a scene where fumes, chemicals, and biohazards of all kinds permeate the air. They allow us to do our jobs without worrying about the negative effects that come from such exposure.
Today’s passage is one of the most familiar in all the Bible. It’s the Armor of God passage most often used as a defense in spiritual warfare. Personally, I think it’s equipment necessary for a Christian’s every day walk with Jesus. Paul tells the Ephesians to put on the full armor of God so that they will be able “stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Honestly, this same armor works not just for those demonic attacks, but every day life. As we follow Christ, one of the biggest dangers we face is simply stumbling in our walk. Falling down, whether the devil pushes us or we’re just clumsy, hurts. Scraped knees. Bruised chins. Lacerations and abrasions. Not to mention, falling down and getting bumps and bruises can be just plain discouraging. In this passage, Paul tells us that the Armor of God helps us to stand firm. He tells us this three times in these seven verses. I think that’s significant.
The passage itself lists specifically what those pieces of armor are and what they represent. But let’s apply them quickly to Personal Protective Equipment.
Tyvek suit and apron - Breastplate of Righteousness and Belt of Truth which protects us from flying contaminates and collateral splashes.
Non-slip, steel-toed boots - Footwear of the Gospel of Peace keeps our feet firmly rooted in the Good News of Christ.
Gloves - Shield of Faith protects us from direct contact with harmful things.
Mask/Respirator - Helmet of Truth helps us to breathe in God’s goodness and sovereignty in a polluted and toxic world.
Flashlight - The word of God that cuts through the darkness and illuminates those around us.
As you go about your day today, consider putting on the full armor of God. Think about your own job or hobbies (hunting, spelunking, football, etc). What common things do you use for personal protection? Can you think how any of these things might be great analogs for the biblical armor to help you better remember to apply these items to your life on a daily basis?
Father God, thank you for your on-going protection from the schemes of the devil. I ask that you would help us to always stand firm. Stand tall. Stand with confidence as we follow your Son on our daily walk. Cover us, Lord, in your protective armor and do not let us remain on the defensive, but take the battle straight to the enemy with your sword…the Bible.
So, this completes our brief walk through Ephesians. I hope you enjoyed it and pray that God spoke to you through it. Next week, we’ll be moving forward with the Goldfish in the Morgue Devotional, most likely going through the book of 1 Corinthians as we do.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in the book that inspired this devotional, why not check it out? It’s honestly completely different than the devotional itself, but details some of my strangest cases on my ‘day job’ and applies biblical lessons to each of them in a fun, entertaining (and sometimes gross, I’ll admit, way).