Mindful Monday: Armor Pt. 6

“…and take the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17 ESV).

Today we conclude the series on the full armor of God by addressing the Helmet of Salvation. I’m not entirely sure why Paul ordered his armor list the way he did. If it had been me I would probably have listed the Helmet of Salvation first, but in Ephesians it is the second to last thing mentioned. I suppose I can understand the Belt of Truth being first, as you can’t really come to the point of salvation without hearing the truth. I think I would have put the Shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace second to last, just in front of the Sword of the Spirit, although I put the Sword of the Spirit with the Belt of Truth in a single post.

Obviously, the helmet is of great importance. If you get a significant brain injury, you will hardly be able to continue the fight, and our enemy wants us to be ineffective. A little over 20 years ago I was doing some outdoor painting at my Father-in-law’s business and fell off the ladder. My head traveled roughly 12 vertical feet before contacting the cement walkway. I suffered a severe concussion. More recently, I’ve had a couple of bicycle accidents that left me with minor concussions; I was wearing a helmet. One of the accidents was way out in the country. I believe that the helmet saved my life. So I have a little better perspective on the importance of helmets.

Likewise, salvation is of the utmost importance. Some see salvation as “fire insurance,” taking the view that salvation is for later. But Jesus did not provide only for my eternal future; He also provided for my earthly present and future!

I think that too many people actually believe that they “weren’t too bad” when they got saved. Their view of salvation is totally skewed. This attitude leads to Sunday Christians. They have the opinion that they still aren’t too bad, and they see no need to alter their lifestyles. While my sins, in the eyes of the world, were not as bad as the sins of some others, I nonetheless a sinner. The world views bad behavior differently than the Bible does. James tells us, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10-11 ESV). Therefore, telling a lie makes you just as guilty in the eyes of the Lord as murder.

When we consider this fact and remember that our sin alone would have been enough to send Jesus to the cross. When we continue in sin willfully we are taking the cross for granted and holding Christ in derision.

Christ is the head of the Church, and He is our head. We put on the Helmet of Salvation not only to protect us and keep evil from infiltrating our heads (mind and soul), but also to protect our relationship with Christ.