Why would we put a belt on first? To understand why, we have to know what the belt is used for. Today we wear a belt for (typically) one reason: to keep our pants up! However, Paul did not write this thinking about the belts we wear today. He was visualizing the belts the Roman soldier wore as a part of their armor.
The belt that a Roman soldier wore had a slightly different use. Unlike our belts, their belt was the first part of the armor they put on. The reason: all other parts of the armor would tie into the belt. The belt held the armor in place so it wouldn’t be sliding every which way. In other words, without this belt—or band, or girdle, as some translations have it—the armor would get in the way and impair the soldier’s ability to fight. Wearing the belt freed the soldier from fighting the rest of his armor!
It should be no surprise that God calls us to put on Truth first. Because truth holds everything else in place—all the other pieces of armor would cause problems if we do not start with truth.
So our armor needs a belt, but which one? God counsels us to use His armor, but for those who don’t like to limit their choices, there are others to choose from. There are two other makers of armor, in case you didn’t know: Satan offers us an alternative and mankind has our own brand as well. Of course, Satan’s suggestion (deception) will only leave you open, weak, and defenseless—not a good choice if you ask me. And man’s choice (tradition) is merely for looks—it’s pretty, but useless.
Still, many choose these alternatives because God’s armor is not always the most comfortable—truth can get a little confining and painful (some translations do call it a girdle). However, God’s armor has been battle tested, and has a perfect success rate. More important though, Jesus tells us in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The Belt of Truth sets us free. It makes us free to fight the enemy, not the rest of the armor.
What is this truth that will set us free? John 17:17 says that God’s Word is truth. David said that God’s law is truth (Psalm 119:142). Basically, everything that comes from the mouth of God is truth. His words must be our foundation. Ultimately, as we search further, to the fulfillment of God’s law—to the living Word—we’ll find Jesus Christ. Jesus did say, “I Am the Truth.” It is in Jesus that we find freedom; it’s in Him we find victory. It is Jesus who holds all the rest of the armor together. We must start with the truth of God’s word, which will result in us knowing the real Truth: Jesus.
Here’s the big question, though: Are you wearing the Belt of Truth, or do you have on one of the alternatives? How can you tell? Here are three identifying marks that are the result of wearing the belt (found in 1 John).
First: if we are wearing the Belt of Truth, then we will walk in a new life away from the darkness (1 John 1:6). If you claim to have a relationship with Jesus, yet still want to live your life in ignorance, not trying to walk in the light of God’s truth, you are not wearing God’s belt. Those who walk in the light do not stop in the comfortable shade of the past (shade is still darkness). We are to keep following until there is no darkness left. So, as long as God leads us further into truth, we keep following.
Second: if we are properly wearing the Belt of Truth, then we will recognize our weakness and confess our sinfulness (1 John 1:8). If you believe you have no sins or weaknesses—if you have become perfect—then you are wearing your belt too loose. And if this is the case, you will end up tripping—falling on your face, overcome by the reality of your sins. The truth will help you to see yourself correctly, which will lead you to the source of your salvation: Jesus.
Third: if we are truly wearing the Belt of Truth, then we will obey that Truth (1 John 2:4). If you claim that God is your Leader, yet you don’t obey Him, then you are wearing the wrong belt. Deception and tradition are the substitutions for full obedience. If complete loving obedience to God is not a priority, then you have bought your armor from the wrong army, and will be easily defeated.
You see, if we want to be left standing at the end, we must put on the Belt of Truth. So, we start with the Bible—the truth of God’s word. This is the base of our armor. Others may have already encouraged you to read your Bible, and I hope you are. However, I would suggest you take it one step further: buckle up. Strap in. Do not merely read the Bible like some novel or textbook, but seek Jesus in its words. Then, when you’ve found Him, wrap yourself in the freedom of His truth as tight as you can. Let nothing, and I repeat nothing, replace it in your life. Let God’s Word be the first and only place you go for truth. Make it the sole source of your understanding of God and salvation and it will be the beginning of your victories. God’s word will not falter. It will not fail. So, we hold on tight. May God’s Truth be our first, and only foundation!