This week we continue our study of the armor of God in Ephesians 6:17:
The helmet protects the head or the mind. If salvation is working in our lives, then our minds will be renewed. We will not continue to think the way we did, or the way the world does. If there is not a substantial difference between the way we think, and those who do not know Christ, then we have somehow aborted the crucial process of having our minds renewed.
Even when our minds have been renewed, they need protection. This is what the helmet of salvation is for. It is the salvation that we have received that protects our minds. Salvation is so profound, such a dramatic contrast to our former life and way of thinking, that from the time we are born again, the cross should be the one thing that determines what we allow in our minds or not.
Silver speaks of redemption in Scripture, as Israel had to pay a half shekel of silver for their redemption (see Exodus 30:15). Also, the price that was given for Jesus was paid in silver. It is noteworthy that the acacia wood posts that upheld the white linen fabric that enclosed the Outer Court of the Tabernacle of Moses had silver bases and silver caps. This white linen curtain represented God’s righteousness, and these acacia wood pillars were a prophetic picture of how those who are called to uphold God’s righteousness stood on redemption, and their heads were covered with redemption.
Many wrongly think that because they have their standing on the redemption of the cross that it does not matter what they do or think. However, if we are truly standing on the redemption of the cross so as to uphold the righteousness of God, it will cover our minds as well, and will be demonstrated by how we think. As we are told in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
If we are going to wear the whole armor of God, the helmet is one of the crucial pieces. Do we protect our minds with the salvation of God? Do we allow the cross to determine what we read, watch on television, or even the conversations that we listen to? As we are told in Galatians 6:7-8:
also reap.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but
the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
As the great apostle also stated it so well in Philippians 4:8:
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Without question, the protection of our minds is fundamental to salvation.