Complete Collection

I have a love/hate relationship with collections. On one hand, I love to collect different things. In high school and college I collected elephants (no relationship to a college.) I had stuffed animal elephants, a blown glass elephant from Disney World, a mirrored elephant from India, an olive wood elephant from Israel, a coal elephant from West Virginia, elephant jewelry, elephant Christmas tree ornaments, and many, many various sizes of all types of elephants. And I “loved” finding all the elephant options. The problem was the collection was never complete and never ending. The “hate” came in displaying, transporting, and storing the collection. I got bored and frustrated with the elephant overload. I finally sold all of them at a yard sale. Then before I knew it I was collecting something else. I always end up giving up and getting rid of the collection when it gets too much.

In Ephesians chapter 6 I ran across a collection and it is attainable and absolutely complete. It is the collection of armor for the Christian.

13 Take up the whole, full, and complete armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 This Greek word for complete is “panoplia”. And it means; panoply – a complete and impressive collection, a complete set of defensive and offensive armor and weaponry, and everything the believer needs to successfully wage spiritual warfare.

It’s all there. We have access to all the resources God provides His children to live a victorious life. Take it up and you are completely shielded and completely ready to stand and fight the good fight of faith. The armor of God is easy to collect and easy to complete.

 I have a love/love relationship with this collection. I love the Lord who equipped me to be able to live a life of victory against sin and evil. And I love being able to be fully equipped needing nothing else to win in the battle of life.

This is the collection I won't give up and I won’t get rid of.

Belt of truth

Breastplate of righteousness

Shoes of the foundation the Gospel

Shield of faith

Helmet of salvation

Sword of the Word of God

The collection is complete.