Never Ending Praise The Lord

Ephesians 6:17a “Take the helmet of salvation….”

In 1938, Chicago Bears NFL star, Dick Plasman, suffered a severe head injury when he crashed into Wrigley Field’s brick wall. In that era of football, helmets were leather and uncomfortable. Dick Plasman felt the helmets obscured his vision, so he refused to wear it and instead relied on luck and skill. Unfortunately for him, his accident led to a scalp laceration, peeling back his entire scalp! There were concerns he would never play again, but he recovered and even played in the 1940 and 1941 championship games- helmetless! It wasn’t until 1944 when the NFL mandated helmet wearing that Dick Plasman finally wore a helmet.

This story makes me wonder why we ever choose to go through life helmetless. Honestly, who else feels like they need a helmet just to walk out the front door?

I’m certain that if Paul were around today, he’d be wondering the same thing. “Where is your helmet, and why are you chancing life without it?” However, he would be asking why we haven’t been wearing our spiritual helmet- The helmet of salvation.

Dick Plasman probably always had the helmet, but he felt he didn’t need it. We can make the same distinction here with our helmet of salvation. As believers, we have it. We have access to it, but we may not think about our direct need for it.

Your life is something God sees as PRECIOUS and because he does see us that way, we’re called to protect the very place that spiritual battles often begin- in our thoughts.

Paul is clear throughout Ephesians that believers are saved by grace [Eph. 2:8-9], sealed with the Holy Spirit [Eph. 1:13-14], and receive eternal inheritance in Christ [Eph. 1:18]. Therefore, we don’t lose our salvation without the helmet, but we do risk being unprotected. The helmet of salvation ensures that our peace, confidence and joy are covered!

When we put our helmets on, it’s a reminder to the enemy that negative thoughts and discouragement have to flee.

Remember, we’re not battling against flesh, but spiritual forces of evil [Eph. 6:12]. The enemy can discourage us so strongly that we lose hope. This makes our helmet of salvation even more powerful. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 connects the helmet of salvation with the HOPE of salvation– not just that we are saved by Christ’s death on the cross, but that someday we will be safe from even the presence of sin and evil.

.So, stop hiding your helmet in your closet! Dust it off, and place it firmly on your head. Remind the enemy that we have our armor in place and we can shake off his attacks. The helmet is our assurance that God is VICTORY.