By Josie Siler
What would you say if I told you I ride a Harley Davidson Nightster Motorcycle? Unfortunately, I can’t see your face right now; I love the looks on people’s faces when they find that out! Granted, I don’t get to ride very much because of my health. In fact, I’m sad to say that I haven’t driven it at all this year. However, when I do go for a drive I make sure that I am well-protected. I always put my leather coat and chaps on, even if it’s hot out. I have my riding boots with a nice firm toe for shifting and soles with great traction so I don’t dump the bike when I stop. I wear either full finger or half finger gloves, depending on the weather and most importantly I put on my full face helmet to protect my noggin. I’m sure you’ve seen people driving motorcycles on the interstate with nothing on but a pair of shorts and flip flops. The thought of what would happen to them if they got in an accident makes me cringe. I, for one, would like to keep my skin fully intact, thank you very much!
Now that you know my riding history, you can appreciate this billboard I saw in North Africa several years ago. One of my friends took this picture, and even if you can’t read Arabic, the message is clear. Helmets are a very good thing!
What would you say if I told you I ride a Harley Davidson Nightster Motorcycle? Unfortunately, I can’t see your face right now; I love the looks on people’s faces when they find that out! Granted, I don’t get to ride very much because of my health. In fact, I’m sad to say that I haven’t driven it at all this year. However, when I do go for a drive I make sure that I am well-protected. I always put my leather coat and chaps on, even if it’s hot out. I have my riding boots with a nice firm toe for shifting and soles with great traction so I don’t dump the bike when I stop. I wear either full finger or half finger gloves, depending on the weather and most importantly I put on my full face helmet to protect my noggin. I’m sure you’ve seen people driving motorcycles on the interstate with nothing on but a pair of shorts and flip flops. The thought of what would happen to them if they got in an accident makes me cringe. I, for one, would like to keep my skin fully intact, thank you very much!
Now that you know my riding history, you can appreciate this billboard I saw in North Africa several years ago. One of my friends took this picture, and even if you can’t read Arabic, the message is clear. Helmets are a very good thing!
Today I want to talk to you about the helmet of salvation. This very special helmet is part of the spiritual armor that God gives us in Ephesians chapter six. The beginning of verse 17 tells us to “…take the helmet of salvation….” I’m fairly certain that when the Apostle Paul wrote to the people of Ephesus and told them to take the helmet of salvation it was an active term. They weren’t supposed to just pick it up and walk around with it under their arms. Like a motorcycle helmet, it does no good strapped to the back of the bike; it’s only useful if you put it on your head and securely fasten it.
We know why motorcycle helmets are so valuable, but what’s the value of the helmet of salvation? Let’s think this through. A helmet protects your head. It keeps it from being physically harmed in case of an accident. It withstands forceful impacts and, if made well, takes the beating that our head would have taken, and is destroyed in the process.
Our spiritual helmet does the same thing on a spiritual level. Remember, it is the helmet of salvation. Salvation comes to us when we believe in the saving work of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This is what protects our head – our mind! Because it’s part of our spiritual armor, it is what protects us when we are attacked by Satan. One of Satan’s favorite things to attack is our minds. He is constantly whispering lies that make us doubt what God has said. When we’re wearing our helmet of salvation, when we are constantly aware that Jesus died in our place and that we are right before God because of Him, the lies of Satan can’t get to us. We are protected by the blood of Jesus.
Just as a motorcycle helmet is destroyed when it saves a rider’s life, so Jesus was destroyed by saving our lives. The good news is the grave could not hold Him. He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all. He sits at the right hand of God and He intercedes on our behalf. Romans 8:33-24 confirms this. “Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
We’ve all heard the lies that Satan likes to tell us. Lies about our worth, our identity, our value, our inability to contribute to society, the list could go on. Next time you hear one of those lies, make sure your helmet of salvation is on to protect you from those lies. Remember your salvation. Remember the work that Jesus has already done to bring us freedom.
Every rider has a decision to make before getting on their bike. We can decide to protect ourselves by wearing a helmet or we can choose to risk it and let the wind blow through our hair. You have that same decision to make. You can choose to put the helmet of salvation on or you can choose to risk it and leave yourself unprotected. What will you choose today?
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” –1 Thessalonians 5:8-11, NLT
© July 31, 2013
We know why motorcycle helmets are so valuable, but what’s the value of the helmet of salvation? Let’s think this through. A helmet protects your head. It keeps it from being physically harmed in case of an accident. It withstands forceful impacts and, if made well, takes the beating that our head would have taken, and is destroyed in the process.
Our spiritual helmet does the same thing on a spiritual level. Remember, it is the helmet of salvation. Salvation comes to us when we believe in the saving work of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This is what protects our head – our mind! Because it’s part of our spiritual armor, it is what protects us when we are attacked by Satan. One of Satan’s favorite things to attack is our minds. He is constantly whispering lies that make us doubt what God has said. When we’re wearing our helmet of salvation, when we are constantly aware that Jesus died in our place and that we are right before God because of Him, the lies of Satan can’t get to us. We are protected by the blood of Jesus.
Just as a motorcycle helmet is destroyed when it saves a rider’s life, so Jesus was destroyed by saving our lives. The good news is the grave could not hold Him. He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all. He sits at the right hand of God and He intercedes on our behalf. Romans 8:33-24 confirms this. “Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
We’ve all heard the lies that Satan likes to tell us. Lies about our worth, our identity, our value, our inability to contribute to society, the list could go on. Next time you hear one of those lies, make sure your helmet of salvation is on to protect you from those lies. Remember your salvation. Remember the work that Jesus has already done to bring us freedom.
Every rider has a decision to make before getting on their bike. We can decide to protect ourselves by wearing a helmet or we can choose to risk it and let the wind blow through our hair. You have that same decision to make. You can choose to put the helmet of salvation on or you can choose to risk it and leave yourself unprotected. What will you choose today?
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” –1 Thessalonians 5:8-11, NLT
© July 31, 2013
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