EXTRAORDINARY ARMOR!

Chong Chen, Katsuyuki Uematsu, Katrin Linse & Julia D. Sigwart, CC BY 4.0

There is a rare, extraordinary snail deep in the ocean that is an example for us all!!!
It is called the ‘Scaly-Foot Snail, or Volcano Snail. (See photo above). 
It lives (and thrives) in deep-sea hydrothermal vents where the water temperature can reach 750 degrees!                                               
How does it survive?                                                                      
It survives by ‘putting on the Armor’ God provided. 

Aren’t we admonished to do the same to survive in this crazy world we live in?
‘Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’  Ephesians 6:11-12.

‘This snail has a coat of protective armor covering its foot.  It is made from hundreds of overlapping iron infused scales.  It fortifies these scales with minerals absorbed from the hot liquid spewed by hydrothermal vents and black smoker chimneys at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, where water can reach temperatures of 752 degrees Fahrenheit!’
Live Science.

Perhaps you are wondering what a ‘hydrothermal vent’ is?  Check out the photo below!

‘Eifuku Chimneys’ NOAA CCO LICENSE.                          

You can see these vents in the photo.  They are formed from the minerals in the water that comes from fissures in the sea floor that release water heated by magma, ‘hot molten or semifluid rock within the earth’s crust’.   The snails live here!  They were discovered in 1977.  Their armor protects them from a very hostile physical environment!

Your armor, if you put it on, protects you from a very hostile spiritual environment.  Remember, the devil, your enemy, ‘prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’  1 Peter 5:8. 
I emphasized the word like because he really isn’t a roaring lion and like I say, we have the armor of God available to protect us!!!

It would be good to re-read about just what this armor is and be sure to put it on!
‘Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.’  Ephesians 6:13-18.

TAKE A LESSON FROM THIS SNAIL AND PUT ON YOUR ARMOR!!!