The Helmet of Salvation
As we evaluate the pieces of our spiritual armour it is significant to realize the Apostle Paul’s frame of reference for these pieces of armour was surely the observation of Roman soldiers.
The helmets these soldiers wore were made of bronze and were extremely rugged and heavy, so the interior of the helmet was lined with sponge. The helmet was so strong that nothing could pierce it not even a battle-axe. For a Roman soldier to go into battle without a helmet would mean certain death.
If we don’t walk in salvation and all that it provides, we will feel the penetrating blows of the enemy’s battle-ax coming to attack our minds and steal our victory.
Salvation, like a helmet, must be worn tightly on our heads symbolizing the necessity of protecting our minds.
The enemy will come at us attacking our minds trying to eliminate salvation's benefits and blessings out of our theology. He will strike at our foundational beliefs trying to convince us to abandon much of Jesus redemptive work on the cross.
God desires to bless our lives and provide for us all the blessing for which Jesus died.
Securing our thoughts and renewing our minds to the word of God restores our fallen broken way of thinking. If we don’t fix the mind, everything that gets invested leaks out as the mind refuses to change. Exposing our unprotected mind to the enemy’s attacks open the doorway to deception. To face the enemy without our helmet is the equivalent of spiritual suicide!
Hosea 4:6 ,'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…' ESV
This is about a lifelong process of growing and maturing with the mind of Christ in the way we learn to think.
Perhaps this is why we read in Ephesians 6:17 that we are to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” It is the word of God at work in our minds that produces the awakening of God’s Kingdom in our hearts. Nothing can help us when our thinking is wrong, and nothing can stop us when our thinking is right!
We must spend time reading, reflecting on and studying the Word of God. To memorize the Bible is to memorize the mind of God! As we become established and mature in our thinking our minds are protected from the strategic attempts of the enemy to attack us in the head. No matter how hard the devil tries to hit us in the mind we know without any question what Jesus’ death and resurrection purchased for us! The knowledge of salvation is awakening, enlightening and covering to all God has entrusted to our care in this life and the one to come. Amen!
- Lawrence Neisent