Chapter Six
My Buckler
The Lord is also our Buckler and shield to protect us form the fiery darts of the enemy. According to Eph 6:16 the shield is one of spiritual weapons of warfare provided for our defense against the subtle attacks of the enemy. It is the shield of faith where with we are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. The enemy uses many subtle devices to try to bring failures in the lives of His servants and saints. He tries to weaken their faith by bringing doubts and fears in their minds. But with the help of the shield of faith we can rebuke the enemy and enjoy complete victory over al these attacks. Thus we become more then conquerors through Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us. By binding the powers of darkness, by faith, according to Matt. 18:18, we get victory. At the same time our faith becomes strong day by day.
To enable us to have a real strong faith we have to go thorough many refining fires. We see in Rev 3:21 the Lord said, “To him that over cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my father in his throne” But here we are reminded that a strong faith should be created in us to over come and to sit in the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ according to his desire. In Rev 3:18 the Lord said, “ I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire..” The refined gold speaks of a strong faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” God cannot be refined even by tons of soap. It is refined only by fire. And generally gold-smith has to use two kinds of fire to refine gold: fire underneath to melt it and fire on the top like blue flame to refine it. And he goes on blowing the blue flame on the molten gold till he sees his own face fully and clearly reflected in the gold like a mirror.
The same way we also have to go through two kinds of battles and afflictions in our lives to have such a faith: battles inside our hearts due to conflicting desires and emotions, and outside due to persecutions, hardships and trials. But we thank God, because of our union with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection we can claim the complete victory of our Lord Jesus Christ which he wrought over death and Satan on the cross for all our needs. Thus we become more than conquerors and at the same time we get strong faith to overcome; also we become qualified to sit in the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For the same reason, after giving them the promise God kept Abraham and Sarah waiting for a child for about twenty five years to give them strong faith. When there was no hope for them physically to have a child they began to realize that God is almighty and nothing is too hard for Him. God can use all kinds of situations in our lives to give us strong and active faith. So we thank God for every situation, every affliction we have to go through; for in such situations He becomes our Buckler; our faith becomes like refined gold. He is a faithful God. According to his promise in 1 Cor 10:13, “But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” It is only by such a strong and living faith we get full understanding of the unseen things and we see all God’s promise fully fulfilled in our lives. It helps us to enjoy unbroken, uninterrupted fellowship with Him. It is through faith we have full liberty and boldness in the most holy place through the efficacy of the precious blood to call upon the Lord for all our needs and see Him working beyond our asking and thinking. It is only by faith that we can enjoy our daily walk with the Lord fully trusting in Him for all our burdens and trials. So we can thank God for He is our Buckler and He can use every means to give us strong and active faith.