Enter your text here...
The Belt of Truth Defends Your Mind Against Deception
By Michael Christian
You fasten truth around your life like a belt when you trust God's truth, the Bible, to answer every question, settle every issue, and guide your every decision. The belt of truth is the foundational piece of the armor of God. Some Christians have yet to fully accept the truth of God's Word and wrap it around them so it speaks into every area of their life.
The Belt of Truth Scripture
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…
Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)
The Active Element in the Belt of Truth
The absolute Truth of God found in His Word.
What Does the Belt of Truth Protect Against?
Worldly deception, conformity to the world in our thinking, carnal thinking. (Matthew 24:4, Romans 12:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
Why You Need the Belt of Truth
God’s Word of truth is the most fundamental piece of armor. You use it to repel the devil’s lies. Wrap God's truth around your life and hold it fast by reading, studying, and applying it to your life.
Jesus solemnly warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4) In the last days, deception will increase. So, how do Christians protect themselves from being deceived? We need to know what truth is and where to find it.
God's Word Is Truth
The Holy Spirit reveals that God’s Word is truth and that all Scripture is inspired of God.
John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Truth Is a Divine Person, Actually, Two.
Jesus declared that He is the truth and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. (Of course, God is also the God of truth. Deut. 32:4, Isa. 65:16)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Fastening on the Belt of Truth
Fastening on the belt of truth means taking the Bible (especially the New Testament) as your source of truth and guide for life. The Bible is God’s inspired, infallible Word, and you put on its truth when you allow its wisdom to answer every question and direct your steps.
Trust in the Bible is not based on a vague, blind faith that some have and others don't. It comes by acknowledging the multiple lines of evidence (linguistic, historical, geographical, scientific, archaeological, and prophetic) that point to the accuracy of the Bible. See my post, "Nine Reasons Why Intelligent People Trust the Bible."
Equally important, however, is the witness of the Holy Spirit that comes when you read the Word for yourself. The Holy Spirit speaks within your spirit and impresses you that Scripture is true. The Bible says that He, the Spirit of truth, will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13, 1 John 2:27)
Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth in all areas and protect you from deception.
Buckling the Belt of Truth Helps Us Stand Strong against Deception
Once you discover the truth of God’s Word, fasten it tightly around your life. Adam and Eve had God’s Word of truth in the garden: Do not eat the fruit, or you will surely die! (paraphrased)
Then, Satan came along and persuaded them that it was okay to eat the fruit and that they would not die. As he kept talking, their belt of truth finally slipped off.
First, they let go of the Word. Then, they disobeyed and ate the fruit. As God warned, they died—first spiritually, then physically.
Belts have buckles that allow them to be tightened and held in place. Fastening on the belt of truth requires us to fasten it securely so it doesn't fall off when it is resisted or contradicted. Your personal decision to trust the Word of God is the clasp that holds truth around your life.
Satan realizes how faith in the Bible protects people from his deception, so he attacks its credibility. If he can belittle and discredit the Bible to the point where people despise it, he has won the battle for men’s souls and enshrouded them in darkness.
Knowing Your Bible Helps You Discern Truth from Error
Once you have accepted the Bible as truth, you can discern the enemy’s lies and know truth from error. Whatever disagrees with or contradicts the Word is a lie and a deception. We wage spiritual warfare by casting “down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God [the Bible].” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
What freedom we experience when we no longer flounder in the cultural muck of moral confusion but are taught from God's wisdom to know right from wrong! (Knowing right from wrong is a “sin” in today’s culture. Ugh!) (John 8:31-32, Isaiah 5:20)
We Live in a World of Lies
Embedded in our culture are half-truths, twisted truths, and outright lies put there by God’s enemy. As we grew up, we partook of the world’s schools, music, movies, television, video games, books, etc. These things brainwashed us into thinking ungodly things are “okay.” Reading the Bible reveals what we need to root out of our minds and replace with godly thinking. Only the light of God’s truth can get us on the right track.
A World in Darkness
Imagine living in a world of complete darkness with no light. When you walked, you stumbled because you could not see what was in front of you. If somebody threw something in your direction, you would not duck because you could not see it coming. You would tumble over the cliff’s edge before you knew it was there. You could not see the faces of your loved ones and would be blind to the beauty created by light—the sunrises, sunsets, and magnificent vistas—because the darkness covered and hid everything.
But what if someone arrived in the land of darkness with millions of candles that allowed people to see? Candles would become the most prized possessions because they kept people from stumbling or falling over cliffs and allowed them to see their loved ones.
The Word of God shines the light of a million candles in this spiritually dark world.
Putting On the Belt of Truth Gives Light in the Darkness
God’s Word is the only light in this world’s moral and spiritual darkness.
Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119: 130 The entrance of your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.”
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star [Jesus] rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star [Jesus] rises in your hearts.
Jesus said,
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Give the Word First Place
A necessary part of wrapping the belt of truth around your waist is giving God’s Word first place in your life. You must “be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Do you have a daily time for Bible reading and devotions? If not, why not? All that separates you from sliding back into the world is your knowledge and application of Bible truth. (John 8:31-32)
Receiving the Love of the Truth
We must learn to love the truth so it can protect us from deception. We must love the truth even when we don’t like it, such as when it corrects our flesh. Paul taught us to receive the love of the truth so Satan’s counterfeits and lies do not deceive us.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-13 (NKJV)
You become a lover of the truth when you wrap the Bible’s wisdom around your life and won’t let it go. You may say, “Oh, but I do that.” None of us loves the Word strongly enough for these last days. You must LOVE it with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength! Even if everyone around you is going in a different direction.
Tie the Word around your life. Hold fast to its traditions. (2 Thessalonians 2:15) Meditate in it morning and night. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2-3) Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly! (Colossians 3:16)
“But I Have My Truth”
But someone always says, “You have your truth, but I have my truth.” With your permission, I would like to pop that bubble. There is no such thing as a private truth. A personal viewpoint, opinion, or belief does not rise to the level of truth unless it applies universally in all times and places. The Bible’s truth meets that test. Personal opinions, unfortunately, fall short of that standard unless they align with the whole counsel of God.
For example, in my mind I may sincerely think I can fly. But if I take a running leap off a cliff, the truth of gravity takes hold, and I fall like a rock. My wishful view of myself didn't change the truth of who I am.
Truth began in God before He created man, before any human existed or thought a thought. His truth is eternal and will continue after heaven and earth pass away.
God’s Word of truth stands like a stable and secure lighthouse amid the pounding waves of human thoughts and desires. When we fasten on the belt of truth, His eternal Word protects us from Satan and his deceptions in this world. Like a great light, God’s truth dispels the darkness of spiritual and moral ignorance.