Our study on the armor of God brings us to the Breastplate of Righteousness. Why is righteousness considered such an essential piece? Why is it a weapon for good and for God? To what extent should we go after an understanding of this valuable piece of armor? These are all good questions. The answer to this last one was demonstrated in the story of one of Sir Earnest Shackleton’s expeditions. In the Antarctic summer of 1908–1909, Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart Of The Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food—elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” We can understand Shackleton’s obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.1 In the barren, and frigid world in which we live, are we to hunger after righteousness like Shackleton and his men did for food? Starving for right and righteousness, now that’s an intense thought: The Who What When and Why of the Breastplate Of Righteousness. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.
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