by J. Randal Matheny

"Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist." --Ephesians 6:14, NET Bible

In the Matrix movies, the star wears an overcoat in which he runs, fights, and comes out on top. It's a movie! The guy looks good in sunglasses and a black overcoat, but nobody wears such a piece of clothing and manages what he does.

In the ancient world, robes, tunics, and loose-flowing clothing got in the way of fast and furious activity. To keep it all from hindering, people used a cloth sash or leather belt to bind it up and permit vigorous action. Sometimes the tail of the long robe would be brought up between the legs and tucked into the belt, making a sort of pants.

So it was that Elijah "tucked his robe into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel." (1 Kings 18:46, NET Bible).

Paul says an essential part of the Christian's armor is the belt of truth. This belt ties up the non-essential items, extraneous matter, and, especially, the harmful elements of life to permit one to fend off the evil one.

This belt is made up, not of physical cloth or animal leather, but of truth. Only by the truth can one identify and bind up that which would obstruct Christian progress.

Truth, then, does not restrict liberty, as some in the world think, but permits it! Another case of the truth setting free, as Jesus would say in another context (John 8:32).

Only a fantasy movie allows a person to wear a long flowing garment and still win. In real life, it just doesn't happen.

So gird yourself with the belt of truth and tuck up all that would impede your strenous activity in the Kingdom of God, so that you may overtake the evil one.