Lynne and I went to an air show last weekend at the Kingsville (Texas) Naval Air Station. While the highlight of the show was the performance of the Blue Angels, there were a number of other attractions as well.

In the military, we often have our version of “show and tell.” At such events, we set up what we call a static display. It could be anything from the weapons and equipment we use, such as tanks and artillery, to the mission of the organization.

My son and a friend were with us at the air show, so we went to look at a Bell Boeing V-22 (Marine) Osprey, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. There were other aircraft, vehicles, and equipment on display as well.

Toward the end of my first tour in Vietnam, I served in a unit that was part of the “Pacification Program.” We lived in the villages with the Vietnamese people and fought alongside the local militia units. I would visit other villages where I’d see militia units armed to the teeth. They had mortars, machine guns, grenades, rocket launchers, and around-the-clock air and artillery support available. The problem was they never engaged the enemy! For all practical purposes, they were nothing more than a “static display.” That was not a winning strategy because, at some point, the enemy would take them out.

There are times when we Christians go into “static display” mode. We look good, but we don’t engage the enemy. The Apostle John addressed this head-on: “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (I John 2:13-14, ESV).

Overcoming the “evil one” is prominently featured here.

Paul tells us that “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (II Corinthians 10:4). In Ephesians, Paul gives us greater insight: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (6:10-12).

When I went to Vietnam, they didn’t just dump me on the beach and say, “Have at it.” I was given a weapon, helmet, flak jacket, and jungle boots. As believers, we are assured that we’ve been given “the whole armor of God” to protect us (shield, helmet, breastplate, footwear, and a belt), and a weapon to use in offense (the sword of the Spirit).

Since we’ve been given everything we need to be successful in our warfare, we have two options. We can either be a “static display” and not engage the enemy, or we can take up the armor and report for duty to the “Captain of the host of the Lord” (Joshua 5:14-15, KJV).

What say ye, Man of Valor?