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 As
an encouragement to Christians living under the constant threat
of persecution, the apostle Peter writes of a "living
hope" made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
With such hope the faithful persevere in anticipation of an
eternal inheritance reserved in heaven (l Pet. l: 3,4). The
source of their hope and the key to their endurance was faith.
It has always been so with God's people and ever shall be.
"And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith" (1 Jn. 5:4).
It
is in keeping with this idea that Peter writes of being
"guarded through faith" by the power of God (v.5).
This word "guarded" is a military term used in the
sense "of providing protection against the enemy, as a
garrison does" (Vine). So, our faith is our fortress for
providing protection against all enemies of righteousness. This
protective aspect of faith is also suggested in Eph. 6: 16 under
the figure of a shield —"Wherewith we shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the evil one". Elsewhere, it
is pictured as a breastplate (l Thss. 5:8). Such references show
plainly that faith is our protector. Faith is our strength and
help in the quest to overcome and to gain the great victory.
But
behind all of this, as suggested in the employment of these
military terms, is the recurring allusion to a great conflict.
If not, why the need for being guarded? Why the talk of such
things as shields, breastplates and victory? Too, conflict
implies an enemy. In an earlier noted passage, Paul identifies
him as the "evil one". In 1 Pet. 5:8 he is referred to
as "your adversary the devil".
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This is why Christians are encouraged to "put on the
whole armor of God"— that we "may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:11). Here it is:
the enemy; the conflict; the protection. The battle is real. So
are its casualties. And so is the need for protection.
Hence,
the need for a strong faith. Old Testament history tells of
great fortified and walled cities such as Babylon, built out of
concern for physical safety. We need such concern for our
spiritual safety! — for the protection of precious souls.
There is a sense in which every Christian is building his
fortress of faith. How well we are able to withstand the
testings of trials and temptations depends on the measure of our
faith-the strength of our fortress. And be sure of this, the
assaults will come! In our context, Peter writes of their
"manifold trials" and later tells them to "think
it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which
cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened
unto you" (1 Pet. 4:12). Knowing the trials will come, we
must fortify our faith.
To
this end we assimilate more and more of the word of God, our
only source of strength and growth (1 Pet. 2:2). This means not
only knowing it, it means respecting it and applying it to every
circumstance of life. As Jesus, we can face and repel the
tempter with: "It is written". Of him, Peter says,
"withstand steadfast in your faith" (l Pet.
5:9). How strong is your fortress? Dan S. Shipley
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