[Jesus speaking]
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

–Parallel verse:
‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭9‬
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Armor protects our bodies. Police and military armor have transformed over time. It used to be made out of heavy steel and now it is mainly made out of lighter plastics and ceramics. However, the purpose for the armor is the same, to protect us. And some parts of our bodies go unprotected as other parts are three-fold protected. Take the heart, for example, it is the source of life-giving blood to our bodies. And so, this small organ is protected in multiple ways. The rib cage acts as an internal armor, then the bullet-proof vest is a second layer, and the shield is a third layer of protection. Why so much protection? The heart is one of the most critical parts of the body.

Jesus gives us the example here of a man who trusts in armor to defend him. This armor keeps him from being injured and allows him to defend his family and his home. But when a stronger man comes and defeats him, he takes the armor away and the weaker man is physically subject to the stronger man in every way.

Jesus is warning this crowd. If they keep trying to gain God’s approval through their own efforts, they will fail, because Satan and his demons are more powerful than they are on their own. But if they put on the Lord’s armor by humbling themselves and repenting of their sin, they will be purified through God’s Spirit and infused with his power! An infusion of God’s power is an amazing gift! So why would some not want it?

We must no longer operate in the spiritual realms of darkness: getting drunk, seeking worldly pleasures, and operating in deceitful and self-serving ways. Instead, we must operate in the kingdom of light and follow our leader, Jesus, The Light of the World! As we put on faith and hope and love, we are being saved now, even as we will be saved into an eternity of dwelling with God in heaven! This is our destiny! We must live for it and in it!

Otherwise we are subject to God’s wrath. We are called to rescue others caught in a life of sin from this impending wrath, by introducing them to Jesus Christ! And so we must go to battle with God’s armor on and fight in his power to win.

Lord, you made a way for me, a past selfish sinner, to be redefined into a child of the kingdom and a member of your Army of Light! Help me to remain in you and reflect your light brightly in my life! Souls hang in the balance, and we have battles to fight in your name and through your power! Only with your Spirit guiding me can I make a difference in the spiritual world. I want to rescue others and help them to taste and see … the goodness of God. Make me a more effective vessel for your kingdom work, I pray.