You were never meant to fight this battle alone

I will never forget the phone call I received one Sunday afternoon. A couple at our church had been killed in a motorcycle accident, and the extended family wanted me to break the news to their two young daughters. In all my years of ministry, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. As I prepared to talk to the girls, I thought, If only the couple had worn helmets, they might have been protected from death, and their children might have been protected from pain.

Helmets are vital for motorcycle riders. Helmets are also vital in warfare to prevent the blows of the enemy and protect against falls.

The Bible says you and I are in a war against “the spiritual forces of wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12). As we fight our spiritual battles, we need a vital piece of armor that Paul called “the helmet of salvation” (v. 17). The helmet of salvation is a powerful deterrent against giving in to temptation.

You might say, “Pastor, I’m a Christian. I’m already saved. What does it mean for me to put on helmet of salvation?” Putting on your helmet means remembering two things that are already true in your life.

First of all, you have been saved from the penalty of sin. You do not have to spend eternity in hell, and this knowledge is great protection against sin.

Some people ask, “If God has saved me forever, then what keeps me from sinning all I want to?” This question is flawed because it assumes that the fear of losing our salvation is necessary to keep us in line.

That’s not the kind of relationship God has with you. He wants you to obey Him out of love rather than fear. In the midst of temptation, remember that you belong to Christ forever. Your eternal security is motivation to obey Him.

Second, you have been saved from the power of sin. When you received God’s forgiveness, He began shaping you into a new person. You are no longer a slave to sin.

So many Christians think they can’t help but give in to sin. They listen to unbelievers and even other well-meaning Christians who say, “You’re only human. You can’t be expected to forgive somebody unconditionally.” Or, “It’s healthy to give full vent to your anger.”

No. Romans 8:2 says you have been freed from the power of sin. In the midst of temptation, remember that sin has no more power over you than you choose to allow it to have.

That’s easier said than done when Satan is whispering in your ear. So how can you put on the helmet of salvation to protect yourself before he attacks? One of the best ways is to memorize Scripture to recall in the heat of battle.

To remind yourself that you have been saved from the penalty of sin, memorize Jesus’ words in John 10:28: “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

To remind yourself that you have been saved from the power of sin, memorize Romans 6:11: “Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Will you commit to putting on your helmet of salvation this week by memorizing these truths?

When temptation comes, I pray you will stand firm in the knowledge that God has saved you from the penalty and the power of sin.