Almost all of you, most probably, have heard of the 19th century preacher by the name of Horatius Bonar. A great preacher and a writer of dozens of books as well. He was going to church one day, to a church-meeting in the middle of the week. He was just very discouraged. Hence, he had not made new converts lately. He just felt like the Lord was not blessing his ministry. He was in the clutches of Satan. He was full of doubts and fears. He just did not want to go in. He was letting the shield of faith dangle on his side. And as he was walking along the road, he hears a voice of someone trying to sell something. So he looks around, but he cannot find the guy. So, he stops; he is puzzled. Then he sees a little group of people across the street, down the road a bit. It sounds like the voice is coming from there, but he still cannot see the man. He gets closer and all he can see is a painting, held up above the crowd. He begins to realize what is going on. There is a man who is selling the painting. But he is standing behind the painting. And no one can see him. And all of a sudden, Bonar realizes,
That is what my life is to be like: Christ is to be the shield between me and Satan. My business is not to worry about me or my reputation. My business is just to hold up Christ and disappear behind him, preach him, and leave the results to him. And he did that. And immediately, the fog lifted. You see, what he was really doing was lifting up the shield of the faith against Satans attacks and saying to Satan,I am not going to be discouraged. I am going to do like Luther, because when Luther was attacked, he often said, Satan, what are you doing in attacking me? You have got no business of attacking me. I am in my head, and my head is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is in heaven to get me to him. And Satan you know what, Luther would say, You cannot get him, because he is already safe in heaven. He is stronger than you anyhow.So, Luther would use the shield of faith that way, encourage himself in the Lord his God and go forward. That is how we are to walk the Christian walk.You see, unbelief dishonours us, weakens us, destroys our comfort, opens us up to the fiery attacks of Satan and prevents our usefulness. But when you put up the shield of faith, you deny your doubts, you cleanse your questionings, you refuse to surrender to your daily lusts, you battle against Satan, through the promises and the Word of God, and you trust in the Lord at all times. So, let us remember a faith that never withstands hell’s temptations will not take you to heaven’s rewards. We need to really use that shield of faith.1
Joel Beeke
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;