“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:14-17).
By the time the apostle Paul wrote the epistle to the Ephesians, he had spent up to five years in the presence of Roman soldiers. From Jerusalem to Caesarea to Rome, Paul—a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:1; Philemon 1)—was near a Roman soldier daily.
Such familiarity was transformed into a powerful spiritual illustration in Ephesians 6 where the inspired apostle commands every Christian to take up the whole armor of God (v. 13) and then inventories the standard equipment issued to every member of Christ’s army (vv. 14-20). If attired as prescribed, the panoply of God ensures spiritual victory over the wicked one and his spiritual hosts.
Stinkin’ thinkin’ is the fastest way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If Satan can defeat you in the battle between the ears, he knows the war is all but over. Therefore, the helmet of salvation—the confident expectation of heaven promised by God to His victorious warriors—is imperative.
Hope is not wishful thinking. It is not a fairy tale created by human imagination. It is the result of faith in God’s word about your past (i.e., justification), your present (i.e., sanctification), and your future (i.e., glorification). This confident expectation and godly optimism is not based upon exhaustive knowledge of the future but upon knowing the God who holds the future (John 17:3; 1 John 3:2-3).
It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). Therefore, we have a sure and steadfast anchor to our soul, a vibrant lifeline to the sovereign throne of the universe (Hebrews 6:19). We have a helmet which can withstand every attack of doubt, discouragement, and despair Satan can muster.
To be dressed for spiritual success you must welcome and wear the helmet of salvation.
