A few days ago during my evening commute a girl with a bike got on the train and she had the most peculiar bike helmet I’ve ever seen. Nothing was weird about it’s shape or design, but the thing that struck me about it was the color. It was metallic gold, shiny and gleaming like C3PO! I couldn’t help but to stare at it, while avoiding being caught staring, when I remembered a Bible verse I had read earlier that morning:
And take the helmet of salvation,…Ephe. 6:17
Right away I smiled as I understood that God was speaking to me through this girl with the golden head gear reminding me to, “take the helmet of salvation”.
The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians that the Christian is daily engaged in warfare against the powers of darkness. He described it as “wrestling” against principalities and powers that wage a battle for the minds and the souls of men. For this daily battle God has given us an “armour” to wear in order to engage the enemy and defeat him. This armour has both defensive and offensive gear, and the helmet of salvation is provided to protect the head/mind. Every day we’re bombarded with messages of sex and sexuality by advertisers trying to sell just about everything from coffee beans to designer clothing. Pornography which was once limited to out-of your-way places, print, and film is now freely available on the internet. From erotic novels to all sorts of perversions, tailored for both men and women, it’s all just a click away. In the midst of all this mind garbage and spiritual pollution, God calls his children to take the helmet of salvation so that we can guard our minds from all impurity that can so easily pollute our spirit and bring us into captivity, and bondage.
The Bible tells us to bring: every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10:5.
We have to sift every thought and sort out anything that may try to infect our minds and bring it to the obedience of Christ. This is a daily discipline, a constant exercise in our battle against the forces of darkness to keep our minds holy and sanctified for God so that we can enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him and not offend His Holy Spirit who lives in us. We have to make sure we don’t leave our homes without the helmet of salvation guarding our minds. This helmet reminds us that we have been saved, redeemed, and bought with a price that Jesus paid for by laying down his life for us on the cross. His Spirit resides in us, and empowers us to turn over any sinful thought that comes our way to Christ so that He can dispose of it. It’s been said that; you can’t avoid birds from flying over your head, but you definitely prevent them from making a nest on it. So make sure that no crow or raven (both symbols of darkness), make a nest in your head. Have the helmet of salvation snuggly guarding your mind so that you can overcome the “head blows” that the enemy will try to land. Then you can replace those thoughts with good ones, and create a positive and pure mindset that pleases God. I love this verse that gives me a clear outline of what are good things to think about.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil. 4:8
Once you start this you’ll find that the: peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7.
Keep your thoughts pure and in line with God’s word by putting on the helmet of salvation, and you will experience a closer walk with God, and see His will and purpose being worked out in your life, as you surrender your thought life to Him.