Take the helmet of salvation …
Summary: What is the “helmet of salvation?” Where do we get it and why did Paul call it a “helmet?” These curious questions are the heart of today’s meditation.
Paul’s use of Roman armor as a metaphor for spiritual armor is thought-provoking. What does he mean by the phrase “helmet of salvation?”
When Jesus describes the “greatest commandment,” he says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37-40).
What did he mean by heart, soul, and mind?
We are to love God in three ways.
First, we love God with the center of our emotions, feelings, and thoughts, our hearts. Second, we love God with our spirit. Third, we love God with our minds.
The breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shield of faith all work together to protect our hearts and our spirits. But what about the mind? What about that place in our head where we find ourselves wondering how things work?
Paul tells us to “take the helmet of salvation … which is the word of God.” The helmet protects the head, and the head is where our mind is. The helmet of salvation, the word of God, protects our minds.
How?
Our mind is uniquely different because it is the seat of our will. Decisions are made in the mind, including the decision to act. A wise mind listens to its heart and spirit (soul). A wise mind also listens to God’s Word and his Spirit. But what if the mind isn’t wise?
If we are not fully immersed in God’s Word and his Spirit, our mind is prone to wander. Robert Robinson wrote the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” in the middle of the eighteenth century. The words in the third verse describe the tendency of our mind to wander:
“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love:”
This is the tendency of the human mind. Distracted by the things of this world, we wonder, and we wander. There are so many things to spend our time doing. Things that engage our mind, catch our interest, and at the same time, draw us away from our Lord.
What do we do?
The rest of the verse describes Paul’s “helmet of salvation.”
“Take my heart, oh, take and seal it
With Thy Spirit from above.
Rescued thus from sin and danger,
Purchased by the Savior’s blood,
May I walk on earth a stranger,
As a son and heir of God.”
Staying focused on our salvation; why we need it, and what Jesus did to procure it, is the helmet of salvation. It protects our minds from the arrows of the evil one by keeping mindful of the love of our Lord.
Application: Keep your hat on!
Food for Thought: How do we keep the helmet of protection on our heads?
2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
We are freed by Christ from condemnation, and we are freed by Christ from condemning others. Remembering that “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) protects us from falling into the mindset of fear and hate.
Chris,
Great point! It is so important for us to be mindful of God’s love and forgiveness.
I like the verse CH uses and his comment very much. I would add Romans 12: 2 and Colossians 6: 8 as verses that also remind us to protect our minds and have them transformed to accomplish God’s will. The battle is for the mind, so we should fill it with the truth of God’s word. Meditating upon God’s word is good food for the mind. Psalm 119: 103 – 104.
10-30-2023, How do we keep the helmet of protection on our heads?
Invited a member of our church to a Monday night bible study I attend. He responded this was his bowling night. He went into detail how he had bowled with these same men for 7 years, and there was just no way he could trade that for bible study. In time he became a heavy drinker with marriage problems and lost his job. His wife asked me to intervene several times but there was nothing I could do. Eventually they moved away and we do not now where they are.
In a combat environment you learn to sleep with your body armor, boots and web gear, ammunition belt, on. You learn to keep your helmet on as it becomes your comfortable pillow as the straps suspend your head off the ground, and your fully loaded, primary weapon is always held in your arms.
The Armor of God is held in place by the buckles, and straps of God which we keep secured by faith. Our shield and sword are secured by the power God.
Salvation is the hope for our spirit which gives us the power to take every thought captive and and remain focused on Jesus and His will for our lives. The helmet cancels carnal thoughts and changes our focus from the lies of the enemy, to revelations of truth from the Holy Spirit, as imitate Him in action and speech. Jesus endured and persevered despite the constant assault on His identity, character, and teachings. Our endurance in crisis produces perseverance as storms and chaos rage around us. This perseverance builds character and character breeds hope. Romans 5:4
Ron,
It sounds like the man you mention chose to leave home without his armor on.
I appreciate your military perspective on this. Readiness is being ready 24/7.
Thanks Ron!