HELMET - check, never be without it

The State of Michigan just passed a new helmet law and it was signed by Governor Rick Snyder.  This law goes into effect immediately.  No longer will motorcyclists have to wear a helmet, the choice is theirs as long as they are twenty-one years of age and carry extra insurance.

There was a season in my life that for a short period of time I worked in a brain injury unit as a medical professional.  This particular facility was a long-term care facility.  The patients or better put residents lived their life out at this facility because in reality they had gone as far as medical science and rehabilitation would take them; to put it another way – they would never recover.  What amazed me as I would go room to room caring for these patients was they each had a story.  Their life did not start out that way; literally a blow in life dealt them this result of permanent disability.  In most of these cases the brain injury was the result of another person’s doing, a motor vehicle accident (due to a drunk driver - the most common reason, in the unit where I worked). 

One blow to the head can change life as we know it forever.  In fact the victim of a head injury may have experienced no other bodily harm…just a blow to the head.

Ephesians 6:16-17(NLT)
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Protecting our head is extremely important not just physically but mentally and spiritually.  Physically it does not take much to alter our brain.  Mentally and spiritually it does not take much to alter our mind or thinking process either.  If we are going to win this spiritual battle we cannot neglect the mind and leave it unprotected.

The word salvation in verse 17 has a special meaning.  According Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (G4992), salvation is defense or defender.  Other references to salvation in the Bible take on somewhat of a fuller meaning in terms of the word salvation or saved and according to Strong’s (G4982) it means; to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well, made whole.  Focusing on the words defense or defender enlightens us to the importance our thoughts and thinking process play in the spiritual battle. 

The Bible does instruct us on how to use our mind/thoughts as a defense or defender.

Philippians 4:6-9(ESV)
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6(ESV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 
being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Romans 12:1-2(ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

If we do not following the instructions we have been given by the Lord this battle cannot be won.

Romans 7:23(ESV)
but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

James 1:8(NKJV)
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Is your spiritual helmet fixed in place?

This is part five of the armor of God series.

We will examine the shield and sword in another part.  Before covering the shield and sword I wanted to address the helmet first.  All the parts of the armor we have studied thus far have been parts that attach to the body.  The shield and sword are armor pieces that we carry par say and do not wear as an attached piece.  To be continued.