539. The Rock Chips Of Life

“One of my neighbor came by last night,” Stan began, “and he was really upset.”

“About what?” I asked.

“A few weeks ago, he bought a new sports car.  A real beauty.  Bright red.  Expensive.  He showed it to me when he first got it.  It looks so fast that you could get a speeding ticket just sitting in it!”

Continuing, Stan said, “When my neighbor first showed me the car, I asked him if he was concerned about driving it and getting any marks on it because it was such a beautiful car.”

“What did he say about that?” I asked.

 “He told me,” Stan replied, “that he had paid extra to get an almost-invisible shield on the front of it so it wouldn’t get rock chips, big bugs, or anything that would damage the car.”

“That was real smart of him,” I replied.

“Yeah,” Stan said, “but the shield failed and that’s what had him so upset last night.  There were a whole bunch of rock chips in the front of his car.  He was almost beside himself!”

“That’s too bad,” I responded.  “Is he going to be able to get it fixed?”

“I think it will be ok,” Stan responded, “but his experience really gave me pause in thinking about something the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus about a shield.  The Book of Psalms talks about this as well.”

“Did Paul have a shield on his chariot?” I asked with a smile.

Stan laughed and said, “No, Paul was writing about the shield of faith that is able to extinguish all of the flaming arrows of Satan.”

“What my neighbor’s experience suggested to me is the absolutely essential requirement that I keep the shield of faith in place at all times in order to be protected from all of the stuff Satan wants to throw at me.”

“If for whatever reason I fail to put the shield in place,” Stan continued, “or if I fail to keep it in place, I am opening myself to get all sort of chips from Satan’s attacks.”

“Those chips,” he added, “will not affect my destination to spend eternity with God when it’s time, for I have the assurance of salvation, but they can certainly interfere with what God has for me to be and to do while He keeps me on this side of eternity.”

“The shield of faith,” Stan concluded, “equals protection against the rocks Satan is constantly throwing at me, the rocks he wants to cause chips in and other damage to my walk of faith with God.  I have to make sure the shield is installed properly and that I keep it in place. Otherwise, it is apt to fail!”

______________________________

In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all of the flaming missiles of the evil one.  Ephesians 6:16.

O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!  Many are rising up against me.  Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.”  But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.  Psalm 3:1-3.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for your provision of the shield of faith that will protect me from all of the flaming arrows and rocks that Satan throws at me.  It is your shield that protects me.  You and I both know all too well what happens when I fail to keep that shield in place.  I need and I ask for all of the help you can provide in helping me with the shield you have for me to ward off all that Satan wants to throw at me. Thank you I can and do bring all of these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

_________________________________

Think on this:  What does it look like to keep your shield of faith firmly in place?  What’s to be done if you see you are getting “rock chips” because the shield is not in place or has slipped? 

_____________________________

Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.