Wearing the Helmet

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:17

Today we are going to look at the helmet of salvation, and tomorrow we'll think about the sword.  Think of all the sports and activities that require a helmet.  Football, one of my favorite sports - and it doesn't necessarily stop a player from getting a concussion!  Batters in baseball.  We're supposed to wear helmets when we ride bikes, skateboards, etc.  How many of you wear helmets when you ride a bike?  Raise your hands - be patient while I count.  Just kidding!

A lot of us don't wear helmets.  We feel like we don't need to, like we have some superhuman ability to avoid disaster, or our heads are so hard there's no way we can get hurt.  Or maybe it's a vanity thing - a helmet will make us look dumb or mess up our hair.

But every physician and athlete in a sport will tell you how invaluable a helmet is.  It's a simple piece of equipment that, obviously, protects our head, our brain.  Our bodies were designed to protect our heads, as well as our hearts, above all else.

But why does Paul equate salvation with protection of the head?  Perhaps he, as a good Jew, knew the scripture from Isaiah 59: 

Truth is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.

He saw that there was no one,
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
    and his own righteousness sustained him.
He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
    and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance

and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak..  (verses 15 - 17)

Of course, he would have known this scripture, and many like it.  But even more importantly, Paul knew that our heads - our intellect - is where our salvation begins.  While we often "feel" God, to completely know him, we have to understand him - as much as we can! - with our heads.

So the helmet (protection) of salvation (to be saved from sin) is an essential piece of our armor.  Our salvation, our personal relationship with Christ, our acceptance of his redemption, means that we will think and act differently now.  Our salvation is both our inspiration and our protection.  Isn't that amazing? 

There is a wonderful treatise on the helmet of salvation at http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-helmet-of-salvation.htm.  They have much more insight than I could hope to share!