The Helmet Of Salvation
Be strong in the Lord
And in the strength of His might
Put on the full armor of God
Take the helmet of salvation
The purpose of a helmet is to protect the head. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, an immense battlefield is our minds, and the thoughts we ponder there.
Our sinful nature longs to fulfil sinful desires and our minds, when left alone, will think on those things and yearn for the temporary pleasure they may bring. Therefore, our minds will influence the way we will act.
A major focus in how temptation is presented to us, from the enemy, is to persuade our minds to doubt the truth of our salvation. If our minds can be swayed to doubt our salvation, or to question if it is genuine, then our confidence in the salvation of the Lord will erode. If our confidence in our salvation in the Lord erodes, our faith can revert to doubting God, Himself. This is not good.
Put on the full armor of God
Take the helmet of salvation
If you begin to doubt your salvation, that doubt will either grow into other doubts about God; or, you might just stop thinking about your salvation altogether. Either way, doubting your salvation or not thinking about your salvation; both are a problem.
When doubt continues, you may begin to live life without the appreciation of God’s grace to forgive you and you likely will begin to live by rules that you or others create. Instead of walking in the grace of God, by which you were saved, you will do works to try to win God’s approval in an attempt to earn back your salvation. This is impossible and leads to anger, insecurity, and frustration. If you try to prove to God that you are still saved, it will become an endless loop that ends in frustration.
If you move in the other direction and stop thinking about the salvation God has provided in Jesus Christ, by His shed blood and the forgiveness of your sin; you will lose the desire to continue in fellowship with God. Apathy and discouragement can set in and begin to overwhelm your thoughts. Without fellowship with God, you will begin to experience an absence of freedom in your relationship with Jesus Christ because your thoughts which are focused on everything except your salvation, begin to act as a ball and chain, strapping you to the illusion they create.
The helmet of salvation is your protection. As you intentionally set your mind on the things of Christ, you will continually be reminded of the amazing salvation God has provided for you in Jesus Christ. With the helmet of salvation on, you are not struggling to try to earn your salvation because your thoughts focus on the truth that your salvation is a free gift of God. The price for your salvation has been paid in full. Your helmet of salvation reminds you of that. Thinking about the salvation of the Lord, and your experience in His salvation, protects your mind.
The key to putting on the helmet of salvation is setting your mind on the things of Christ, with confidence in the salvation of the Lord. You don’t have to wonder about your salvation or be worried about whether or not you are saved. Your confidence grows from knowing what God has said in His word. You can know, without a doubt, that you are saved, because His word says so and you continue to exercise your faith in His word. As a result, the Holy Spirit which the Bible says dwells in you, will confirm in your heart and in your mind that you are a kid in His kingdom.
Here are a few truths from God’s word that can help to protect your heart and mind. Ponder God’s word, as you put on your helmet of salvation.
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” ~ Romans 8:16
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” ~ 1 John 5:11-13
“Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” ~ Hebrews 7:22-25
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:38-39
