Quenching The Fiery Darts Of The Evil One
The evil one will stop at nothing to destroy the lives of Christians. He will utilise devious means to deceive and entrap us. He will also use “fiery darts” with the intension to hurt us.
“The fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16
What are these “fiery darts”? In ancient Rome, arrows were covered with pitch or tar and set on fire. They were shot at the bodies of enemy soldiers. Paul likened the temptations of the wicked one to these fiery arrows. They can inflict tremendous hurt upon the lives of Christian soldiers. Such is the wickedness of the evil one. Wonderfully, the Lord has provided for us a significant defence against these perilous temptations. The shield of faith is able to quench the all the temptations of the wicked one.
“Taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts…”
Ephesians 6:16
The shield of faith is powerful enough to extinguish these “fiery darts”. Our challenge is to learn how to use the shield of faith.
Taking Up The Shield Of Faith
“Above all, taking the shield of faith…”
Ephesians 6:16
It is of the utmost importance that we learn to use the shield of faith well. Roman soldiers would be trained by their instructors on how to use a huge door shaped shield. The shield was about 2.5 feet wide by 4.5 feet high. It protected the entire body of the Roman soldier but it was not easy to use. The soldier must learn how to employ the shield until it became part of his body. When the fiery arrows were hurled, he would instinctively use his shield to protect himself. In a similar way, the servant of God must know his faith so well that it will be instinctive for him to use his faith against temptations. He will be able to exercise strong faith. In practical ways, how can we learn to use the shield of faith well?
1. Understanding The Doctrine Of Faith Well
It is vital that we formulate for ourselves what our doctrine of faith is about. Very often, people do not know their faith in the Lord Jesus well. We must take the time to understand the initial faith that we have in our salvation in Christ. We must understand also how our faith must be steadfast and mature.
2. Growing In Our Faith
We must also take the time to grow in our faith. It must be nurtured from strength to strength. As we take the time to cultivate our walk with God and know His word, our faith will progress. When our faith is strong, we can make good and right choices when we are tempted by the evil one. Let’s put in the effort to develop our faith further. When the fiery darts of the evil one come, we will be able to defend ourselves with the shield of faith.