Untouchable: Unraveling The Myth That You're Too Faithful To FallSample

Day 5: The Death of the Myth, Part 2

In 2011, Sgt. Timothy Gilboe was serving with the United States Army in Afghanistan. His unit, the Second Battalion, Fourth Infantry, had been assigned to choke off weapons being smuggled into the area.

From the hillside where Gilboe and his unit were stationed, the soldiers fired at a mortar team it spotted in the streets below. Believing the insurgents had been injured or killed, the unit was sent to conduct an assessment of the damage, coming under further attack while moving through the village.

As Gilboe came around a building, following Staff Sgt. Matthew Hermanson, two insurgents opened fire on the men. Hermanson was mortally wounded by gunfire as he led the way.

Without time to get his machine gun, Gilboe charged the other insurgent, grabbing the enemy's AK-47 barrel and forcing the muzzle to his chest plate. The insurgent fired a shot into the plate and knocked down Gilboe.

Gilboe wrestled the insurgent, eventually removing the man’s weapon and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. He struck the enemy in the face, giving enough space for the assistant machine gunner to shoot and kill the insurgent. 

Gilboe was able to clear the area and provide first aid to the casualties until the medic arrived. His actions are credited with saving the lives of at least two soldiers.

Gilboe credits his life to the armor and Hermanson. Without either, Gilboe might not be here today.

Armor has the ability to protect a person in battle from enemy fire and save a life. Just as physical armor saves lives, so does spiritual armor. Over and over again, God gives us insight into the spiritual battle we face rather than a physical. Our fight isn’t against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces we cannot see.

The armor of God is a tool put on by an active faith. If you are going to take on this defense, it will require from you a living faith that is activated each and every day. You won’t overcome the enemy and stand firm against temptation with a passive faith. If you are committed to this battle, you must also commit to living each day out of a place of faith.

What does this mean, exactly? Well, it means having faith each day in God, knowing who He is and what He has done. God is the beginning and the end, the all-powerful. You can have confidence that He is the ultimate authority and with great celebration declare that He already conquered death. Because He has victory, you have victory! Remember, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” You are not alone in your battle; God is for you and with you. He brings into your situation a victory over the enemy that was already won on the cross!

Carefully explore each part of the armor and choose to put it on each day for victorious living!