A Woman to Woman Article
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
“Who’s the fairest of them all?” Most of us can recall this familiar storybook tale, where the wicked witch was very jealous of the pure and innocent Snow White and plotted against her. She succeeded in poisoning Snow White with a poisoned apple which put her into a deep sleep. The wicked witch thought she had won, but the prince broke the spell with the kiss of love, and Snow White remained the “fairest of them all.” This is another classic tale of good vs. evil.
Satan is like a lion, roaming about to see whom he can destroy (1 Peter 5:8). We must build solid walls of purity and righteousness to keep Satan out. We only have one defense against Satan’s wiles—it is the way we live daily. When we live to please the Lord every day, He is right there to help us through our battles with Satan. Ephesians 6:11 speaks of the armor of God. It says, “Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Yes, the devil schemes just like the wicked witch. The devil is out to destroy anyone he can, who is living a pure life. Our struggle is a spiritual struggle, against wickedness (Eph. 6:12). Ephesians 6:13 gives us the complete answer on how to do battle against this spiritual wickedness: “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
Snow White was very innocent and pure. The wicked witch’s heart was black and evil because of her pride, vanity and arrogance. The witch poisoned Snow White in her innocence, not being “wise as a serpent,” as the Bible tells us to be (Matt. 10:16).
In our walk with God, Satan sets out “poisoned apples” to try to snare us and trip us up. If we put on the armor of God, we will see the traps Satan sets for us. Let’s take a look at that armor listed in Ephesians 6:14-18:
1. Gird your loins with truth. Yes, study God’s word daily, that we may know and understand His Ways and live by them.
2. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Yes, live to please the Lord every day by performing acts of righteousness continually towards others in love.
3. Shod your feet with the gospel of peace. Yes, every step we take we stand for good and make peace, whenever possible, among all those who cross our path. We are to walk in the Ways of the Lord by being living words of God (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4).
4. Take up the shield of faith. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). This is a strong shield God provides when we live according to His Ways by being a constant example to others. Eph. 6:16 tells us we will then be able to extinguish all flaming missiles from the evil one. Remember, it is by our works that our faith is made complete (James 2:22).
5. Take the helmet of salvation. A physical helmet protects our head—our brain, the part that thinks. The spiritual helmet of salvation protects our mind from evil thoughts and influences, which, if it continues, will turn into evil actions. This helmet is God’s Spirit, which is protection and helps us think on only good things that please Him every day.
6. Take the sword of the Spirit. God’s word is our sword. When His word becomes our every thought and deed, then we are thinking and living as the Lord, and then we have more power than the devil.
We are to “pray at all times in the spirit and be on the alert with perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). Yes, pray for our brothers and sisters who are living by God’s Ways and watch out for those “poisoned apples” the devil throws before us. When we live to please God every day and wear His armor it will protect us from spiritual wickedness.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Those who live for God each day, by living His Holy Way!