What is the best way for an enemy to defeat someone quickly? Through a quick and heavy blow to the head of course! Consider this: Satan bruised Jesus' heel (ineffective though it still hurt). However, Jesus crushed Satan's head (it not only hurt but it was effective!).

In Genesis chapter three this concept of head crushing is first introduced. Amazingly enough, it is expanded upon in Isaiah chapter 59. Here, Christ Himself intervines because no justice in found in the nation of Israel--thus He will Himself go out and repay wrath to His enemies and retribution to His foes. Yet, notice, Christ (who is our example) puts on a helmet of salvation. He's not about to get His head crushed in battle!

Later in the Scriptures, this phrase, Helmet of Salvation occurs again. As in Isaiah 59, a battle is pictured. This time it is the Christian who is intervening and in danger. Paul the Apostle reminds us to put on the whole armor of God (Eph 6). Though the battle is real, it is invisible to the human eye. If we fail to take up our armor we are in danger from the enemy.

Thus, the Helmet of Salvation is available to every Christian. Being given, we ought to accept it. Clearly there is choice involved here. When a soldier goes out into battle and leaves the helmet in his sleeping quarters, it is only a matter of time before a piece of metal hits him in the head and he is injured or killed.

In putting on the Helmet of Salvation, lets think, considering some things that we have been saved from...

There are many more things which we have been saved from, but all these things make us think, causing us to remember Christ's faithfulness in each of our lives. It is an encouragement to us. In Philippians' chapter 4, we are urged to think of:

This is because our thought lives are often destructive. Yet, we are told in Scripture that Christians have the mind of Christ (2 Corinthians 2). Since we have it, shouldn't we ought to think like it? Satan can (and does) use our thoughts against us. Then we turn around and act on those thoughts, often hurting others.

Thus the helmet is our main form of protection against the temptations of our own flesh and against the attacks of Satan. Having right thoughts is our Helmet of Salvation. When we fail to wear this simple piece of armor, we are easy prey. It is almost a grim reminder at exactly how frail we are without God's protection. Notice how this particular piece of armor gets our thoughts off of ourselves and onto God? No longer are we being self-centered, even selfish, but godly.

In having this mind of Christ, we are to take our thoughts as captives to make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10). We are the guards! But notice that we are also having to make our thoughts obedient. We are also the guardians! This makes perfect sense because we did give birth to them (by way of our evil desires).

Thus if we do not take captive our thoughts and make each one obedient to Christ, it is only a matter of time before we actively carry out our evil desires in broad daylight. If we don't take our thoughts captive and make them behave, we simply aren't taking that Helmet of Salvation. We have essentially rejected it.

Another way we refuse the helmet is our refusal to read/study the Scriptures. If we don't find ourselves looking forward to reading the Bible on a consistant basis, we need to ask if we truly love Christ. Christ is the very Word of God (John 1). Do you want to love Christ more? Read the Bible more.

The bottom line is that we have been warned through the Scriptures--Satan's attacks are real. We are not to be ignorant of them. Satan can attack us through our mind and we can attack ourselves through our mind. Thus if we are not thinking Christ's way, then sin will enter our lives and take control. It is why we are commanded not to sin in our anger (an emotion) lest the devil get a foothold (Ephesians 4). It is why we are commanded to think of pure and lovely things (Philippans 4). It is why we are commanded to take our thoughts captive and make each one obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 2). It the way to overcoming any sin in our lives (Romans chapter 7).