When I was a child, I was terrified of holes. Yes, holes. All holes. From the large gaping hole exposed when the water supply of a residential area was left uncovered to the holes that form in the batter when pancakes were being prepared for a Saturday morning breakfast feast. I was convinced that all holes were dangerous and served to draw me into them against my will where I’d spend eternity away from my family and friends. As a result, I never wanted to eat pancakes and my mother would always have to pick me up and carry me across any hole or opening along any walkway as I would become paralyzed with fear and would not proceed on my own!
From where did these beliefs come?
My brain.
At some point in my life, my underdeveloped brain gathered some information, processed it, and filed it away. When the time was right, this information was applied. It did not matter that the information was erroneous. My body responded based on what my brain processed. My brain said “be afraid” and my body tremored. My brain said “that hole may be small, but it will suck you in.” My body ran.
The brain is a vital organ! When it does not function properly, our bodies do not function properly. If information is processed incorrectly, we will respond accordingly until something changes in our thinking and understanding.
Paul understood this concept very well and wanted to make it clear to the Ephesians. He again draws on their understanding of what being a Roman soldier in battle involved. Of all the gear these soldiers had to put on, the helmet was the last piece to be taken up. This piece of armor protected their heads, which housed their brains. They knew that if there was damage to their heads, all of the other armor would be of little to no value. Once their brains could no longer function properly, they would be vulnerable to the attacks of their enemy.
Well, the brain is to the body what the mind is to the soul. What Paul was teaching the Ephesians and what we are to understand today is that just as our physical brains need to be protected with helmets supplied in battle, our minds need to be protected with a helmet called salvation.
To “take the helmet of salvation” is to think about, to be reminded of, to rehearse the fact that you, when and if you profess Christ as Lord, were delivered and are daily being delivered from sin and its consequences.
Some of us believe that salvation is only about escaping hell in the future. That logic is as erroneous as the logic that fueled my childhood fear of holes. But, hey, if we think it in our minds, we will act it out in our lives. As a result, we accept Christ as Lord and settle for hell here on Earth all in the name of “some glad morning . . . when this life is over.”
No!
That is not what salvation is about. Paul encourages these believers, these Saints, to put on the helmet of salvation because it provides the constant assurance of our deliverance and the protection from our enemy’s schemes right here in this present time. We don’t have to wait until we “fly away . . .” to Heaven to experience peace and joy and victory. What we need to do is cover our minds with the blessed daily assurance that we are presently saved by grace, delivered from sin, and protected from its consequences.
It is interesting that Paul is talking to Christians. This proves that it is possible to be saved but not think saved. It is possible to believe in Christ as Lord but not live like it. It’s possible to be a soldier in the Lord’s army and to have not yet taken your helmet of salvation—your daily assurance of deliverance and protection.
How many of us are walking around scared that we are about to be sucked into some hole? How many of us are missing out on some delicious fixings and remaining dependent on the hands of others to propel us forward all based on an underdeveloped mind? Paul is saying renew your mind! Protect it from misguided erroneous information! Protect it from damage caused by the impact of the devil’s schemes. Allow the truth of God’s Word to absorb the shock of life’s blows!
Yes, life will throw some blows! But our Heavenly Father threw the ultimate blow at Calvary! Take the helmet of salvation and protect your mind from beliefs that are real yet wrong and from damage that is painful yet forgiven. You are saved. You’ve been delivered. Now think like it and act like it.
Christy, I loved this post! This nugget I think is my favorite. “They knew that if there was damage to their heads, all of the other armor would be of little to no value. Once their brains could no longer function properly, they would be vulnerable to the attacks of their enemy.”
Oh, how many times does the enemy attack my brain and fling darts of doubts and confusion my way! Thank you for this post! I’ve shared on Twitter so there can be reminded to wear their helmet! ❤
Kimberly, Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Dear Christy
Today’s blog post “What’s On Your Mind?” by you made me think about what I was afraid of when I was a child back home in the Philippines.
My main-fear was fear of darkness, and we didn’t have electricity in our village before I was around ten years old; it was quite scary!
I feel I want to make pancakes after reading your post 🙂
What I find scary – and fascinating – about our brain is science has seen so many laws that apply to the way we think that we can freely study and test ourselves with a few clicks and an Internet connection.
I love you small historical points in your blog posts.
I didn’t know the story about the helmets and the Roman soldiers.
Here’s my favourite sentence in this particular blog post because I got me thinking:
“How many of us are walking around scared that we are about to be sucked into some hole?”
Amen, our Heavenly Father is more significant than any problem we may face in life.
I’ll share your blog post on my social media channels Thursday, November 9.
Warmly
Edna Davidsen
Edna, Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Thank you. Be blessed in all you do
I love that scripture describes the ability to renew our mind! That our mind then has the ability to alter our thoughts and that process over time actually then changes the structure of the brain by creating new pathways. God designed us in a way to be able to overcome those irrational fears that took root when we were little as well as false truths that have taken root due to hurts and wounds.
I love Paul’s use of imagery that the armor of God and especially the helmet of salvation provides. God has given us the ability to be protected as well as fight off the enemy when we utilize and be covered by Him!
Thank you Lord for your blessed helmet of salvation! Thank you for the reminder Sis Christy.?
P.S. What a precious picture! Is this a picture of Olivia or is it a younger picture of you??
I love the line that is possible to be saved but not think saved. Just like the Hebrews who still had a slave mentality, we have to learn to be saved in all parts of ourselves.
So true Christy. I would always ask my anatomy students to write a small essay on which body system was the most important and why. Majority of responses were the nervous system (brain & nerves) or the cardiovascular system (heart & vessels). The physical protection of our brain is by a skull and our heart by our sternum. But the spiritual protection of our mind (brain) and soul (heart) are provided through God’s word. Your spiritual health has an affect on your physical and mental health. So important to study (understand) His Word for daily protection of our spiritual & physical health.