(Scriptures for this study are within the text.)
Helmets are seldom fashion statements. They can be painted a variety of colors and
sport a variety of designs, but its sole purpose is to protect our heads. Whenever our fragile, significantly important
head is involved in an activity where it can be injured, a helmet is a
necessity. It is only logical that
someone participating in a contact sport or high-risk activity would wear a
helmet. But in reality, as we juggle all the roles, responsibilities and
relationships in our lives, we are in constant danger of something or
everything crashing down on our heads. Life requires a helmet. For that reason,
the One who loves us most, who has taken upon Himself the responsibility of our
wellbeing has provided us with a helmet.
The helmet according to God’s word is the “helmet of
salvation.” (See 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Ephesians 6:17) When we think of
salvation, we think of being saved from the consequences of our sinful choices
– of missing God’s standard of holiness. Those choices resulted in a debt we
could never repay, but in His absolute holiness, Jesus could. Jesus willing
paid with His life the full indebtedness accrued by our sinful choices. (Revelations 5:9) That payment redeemed our soul, as well as purchased a helmet that
protects our vulnerable minds.
John 17:3 tells us that eternal life is knowing Jesus.
It is knowing that is the helmet of salvation. This is not simply
knowing about God, but knowing Him experientially and intimately. Knowing that
He is who He says He is, and that all He does and all He asks of us are because
of who He is. The more we know Him – His
loving kindness that knows no limits, His faithfulness that never ceases, His
goodness that characterizes all He does, and so forth - the more we know that we know, the more our
mind is protected by the reality that He truly “has granted us everything
pertaining to life and godliness” as declared in 2 Peter 1:3,4.
Life is not a recreational sport we occasionally participate
in, but daily living in a war zone where most battles are fought on the
battlefield of the mind. When flaming
arrows of doubt, fear and deception come flying from all directions (and when
we least expect it), we need the helmet of salvation to protect our mind with
the truth of God’s promises and provisions. Worn consistently this helmet of salvation
actually changes the way we think, impacting how we think about God, about
ourselves, about others, about EVERYTHING. It changes us, if we willingly put it
on. (See Romans 12:2)
A helmet must to be put on to protect. Putting on the
“helmet of salvation” involves several deliberate choices:
1) Choosing to believe.
Faith is not a feeling, but a choice.
We have to choose to take God at His word that He is who He says He is
and has done, is doing and will do what He says He will do. In that situation
where we choose to believe that God is trustworthy, God is able, God is
present, God is … we are putting on the
helmet He faithfully provides.
2) Choosing to grow in grace and knowledge. (2 Peter 3:18) That “everything” promised in 2 Peter 1:3 comes “through the true knowledge of Him.” We continually need to
pursue knowing Jesus intimately. Listen
to Him, read about Him, talk about Him and to Him, and surround our selves with
people who have a close and personal relationship with Him. People who daily put on their own helmets.
3) Choosing to obey unconditionally. We need to follow Christ’s example and do
what His word instructs us to do as closely as we can. Obeying what we do not necessarily understand
is not easy. Walking by faith rather
than feelings or logic never is. Feelings
and logic (our own understanding) are often the very things that cause us to
neglect wearing our helmets.
Out of His great love and amazing grace, Christ makes
available to us the “helmet of salvation.” We only need to ask. (Acts 2:21) It
is right here within easy reach for us to take and strap on our head. When we
intentionally put on this helmet, He promises inner joy and peace that truly
protects our minds from fear, doubt and purposelessness. (See 1 Peter 1:8; 2 Peter 1:2; and Isaiah 26:3)
Make It
Personal
Putting on a helmet carries a very distinct image,
whether it is a football player, bike rider, a soldier or construction
worker. What do you imagine wearing a
“helmet of salvation” would look like if and when you wear it?
Why do you think the Lord doesn’t simply permanently
affix a helmet to our mind?
What does it mean to you to choose to believe?
Peter talks a lot about being intentional in 2 Peter1:5-11.
- What role does putting on the “helmet of salvation” fit in these building blocks to being useful and fruitful?
- What are the consequences of failing to consistently putting on this helmet?
How can you be more intentional?
