Our God has everything we need to walk through this life victoriously, accomplishing with great zeal all the plans He has purposed for us. All we need to do is take the time each day to prepare ourselves by first spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer, allowing Him to clothe us so we will be adequately dressed to go to battle in His name. Unfortunately, for many of us, the moment we wake up we find ourselves immediately consumed with the plans, problems, and concerns of the day, and if we are not careful, we are quickly carried away, barely able to cope with the minor details of our life, let alone, the greater purposes of God's Kingdom. Our next piece of armor is essential for making sure we make it out the door with our feet set on mission, our hearts fixed on the kingdom, and our eyes focused on the prize.
Article #5: The Helmet of SALVATION
"Take the helmet of salvation..." (Ephesians 6:17). The helmet has always been an important piece of protective equipment since the beginning of civilization. It is not necessary to explain how vital it is to protect the head of the body. Throughout the ages man has developed various forms of protective head gear to reduce the risk of injury to the head, face, and brain. Whether it be a bicycle helmet, football helmet, construction hat, or military helmet, the ultimate objective has always been to protect that main body from which the entire body gains its functioning.
The head is an integral and important part of the body. Just as our physical head is important for the proper functioning of the human body, so to is our spiritual Head for functioning as we were created to be. For mankind, our head is Christ. "Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ..." (1 Corinthians 11:3a). He is the head over all things. "And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:22-23). "In putting everything under Him, God left nothing that is not subject to Him" (Hebrews 2:8b). Because of sin mankind cannot fully function as God created Him to be; because man is not controlled by the Head he belongs to; he has become a slave to sin. Praise God, Jesus Christ was sent to restore the body to its' proper alignment by giving up His body, through the shedding of His blood on the cross, saving mankind from the crippling life of this sinful world, and freeing him to walk in the newness of life under the headship of Christ (reference Romans 6:4).
"And He is the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,
so that in everything He might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross"
(Colossians 1:18-20)
The Headship of the Lord has been established over all things and no one can contend with Him. He created us and has saved us. Through the saving power of His death and resurrection we have been made victors! Unfortunately, the enemy of God, Satan, enjoys playing "head games" with the children of God, creeping into our thought lives with his deceptive lies and schemes, causing us doubt God's power over our lives and the world. Our mind is the place the enemy choses to wage his most deadliest battles. Therefore, the Lord calls His children to "take the helmet of salvation", not only as protective armor, but also as a symbol of victory. While the enemy tempts daily to fill our minds with confusion, doubt, and discouragement, the Lord calls us to be intentional about putting on our salvation as a helmet, bringing to mind, in every waking moment, that He has saved us, and reminding us that we are being delivered everyday until He comes to take us home. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior, and my God" (Psalm 42:5).
As we take our helmet of salvation each day, putting it on as a covering over our minds, and over our thought lives, we are placing ourselves daily under the headship of Christ. He has saved us and delivered us from the bondage of sin and death and from the trappings of this world. We are to stand firm in our salvation and remember that "...we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16b). Our minds should be constantly filled with God's Word, and everytime the enemy attempts to gain entry, we can claim God's truth: "He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken" (Psalm 62:2); "My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge..." (Psalm 62:7); "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1); "The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; His is their stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 37:38).
As our theme verse from 2 Corinthians 10 states: "...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (v.5b), we are to be mindful that we are under the Lordship of Christ and no one else has any power over us. Equipped with His rock solid head gear we can move forward as ambassadors of action, no longer questioning our calling, or fearful of man, we are set free; free to be consumed with Christ and what He has accomplished on our behalf, and enabled to proclaim His salvation to the world. "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed..." (1 Peter 1:13).
"Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heave given to men
by which we must be saved."
(Acts 4:12)
Heavenly Father, "Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day." You, O Lord, are my salvation, in you will I trust and not be afraid. You are my strength and my song. Daily I will sing your praises and go out with joy knowing you have delivered me from the clutches of my enemy. I have put my trust in you for you have saved me. Help me to not fall prey to the enemy's deception, in whose desire it is to strip me of my confidence in you. "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him." Lord, "my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail." O Lord, be gracious to me; for I long for you. Be my strength every morning, my salvation in times of distress. May my every thought be only of you and your righteousness. Guard my heart and mind and direct every step I take, so whether I turn to the right or to the left, I will hear a voice behind me saying, "this is the way, walk in it." Keep my thoughts and motives pure and help me to live every day with a grateful heart. Help me to not take for granted your gift of salvation, and with an obedient and willing heart, without fear of man, help me to go forward with boldness and confidence to proclaim your salvation to the world. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Lord, equip us daily in your armor, protect us from the evil one, and prepare us to battle for the souls of the world until all mankind sees your salvation. "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God..." In Jesus' Name. Amen.
[Scripture references: Psalm 62:1; 96:2; Isaiah 12:2; 25:9; 30:21; 33:2; 51:6; Luke 3:6; Romans 1:16; Revelation 19:1]
