“What’s Under Your Armor?”

II Kings 5:1-14 tells the story of a man, a great warrior, “Captain of the host of Syria.” In fact, the Lord had used him to bring deliverance to Syria. Na-a-man was not afraid of anything or anyone. He was a loyal soldier. I can imagine he was tall, and when he bellowed out a command, ” the earth shook.” When he came into the city, little children cheered, and men and women bowed down to him. He was their hero, he was a “superstar…” but, “he was a leper.” Underneath his facial plate of armor, and his “full body armor,” was a secret… for “he was a leper.”

The Bible says that his army had taken people captive of the land of Israel, and one of them was a little slave girl. She waited on Na-a-man and his wife and was in the bedroom chamber when Na-a-man would come in from war… she watched when he began to remove his armor and was horrified to see that “he was a leper!”

I often wonder how many people keep their burdens, their cares, “hidden” under their armor? The things that we try to hide, even “make-up” cannot cover it…. nor fancy clothing, nor those expensive clothes. We can go to church and try to act like everything is “OK,” when it isn’t… That burden is so big, it has become “worse than leprosy”…. Always remember that the only answer is Jesus. Nothing hides from His “all-seeing eyes.” He is always there to “take our yoke,” and “our burdens” from us… if, we will let Him.

I met a young woman who looked “great” on the outside… She was beautiful, she dressed nice, she was “near perfect,” but I knew in my heart, that her armor was covering a great burden she was carrying. Jesus said, “come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

This does not only apply to sinners, it applies to Christians, who are carrying, and “covering” heavy burdens… burdens that have been secretly tormenting them, just like “leprosy.” The only way to be “healed,” is through complete obedience and “trust” in God’s love. You may have to “dip in the dirty river Jordan” like Na-a-man, and do something that you would normally not want to do, but if the Lord tells you to do something, do it!

God bless you and have a great day! Sherry