BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Break your sternum and you’ll soon realize the reason Paul chose the breastplate of righteousness as a simile for protection of the chest; a vital part of the soldier’s body.
In an auto accident, a young man accidentally drove a Hyundai Sonata through the left front of my wife Susie’s car.
Susie went into shock. She jumped out of the car seeking help for her dear friend who was seriously hurt riding shotgun. Only when Susie arrived at the hospital did she realize she had a broken sternum, bruised face, back bruise and sprained ankles.
Her friend had a broken neck, broken ribs, plus a hole in her lungs. She was taken by ambulance to the Seattle area for recovery and to be with her family.
It was a tough recovery for both; especially her friend. Thankfully it was not fatal.
As I watched Susie take up to 10 minutes to get out of a chair, or walk slowly down the hall with a pillow clutched to her chest, I was reminded of the Gladius, the Roman 20″ sword with a diamond-shaped tip.
If the Roman sword was able to penetrate the enemies chest protector and break the sternum it was “game over.”
Likewise, when we break our sternum, we are virtually helpless.
In Psalms, we read, “He leads us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Someone said reputation is what we live for; character is who we are and what we stand for.
I like the saying, it is always right to do the right thing and always wrong to do the wrong thing.
Thank God He is a God of grace and mercy love and forgiveness, thank God the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness, thank God Jesus Christ became sin for us who knew no sin that we might be called righteous in His sight.
Lord God, help each of us protect our sternums; our righteousness.
