I drove by a new bike trail the other day and my attention was grabbed by a sign, “Helmets must be worn on the trail.” I imagine it’s expected, but I wonder if kids still resist wearing them.

Bike helmets became “popular” when our sons were young. I say “popular” tongue-in-cheek because they were never popular with Jason and Matt. In those days (that makes me sound like I’m a hundred years old – and no I’m not!) helmet wearing was still optional, unless you wanted to enter a competition. Boys and girls who wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a helmet in public quickly gave in to the requirement for the sake of the race.

And why were helmets required for a competition? For the same reason they’re now required on bike trails and in parks and roadways: Protection of a very fragile brain enclosed in a bony box – the skull. How much a helmet will do if you fall off of a 50 foot cliff is in question, but hopefully a helmet also serves as a reminder that the rider is not invincible and should stay away from 50 foot cliffs!

And what does that have to do with The Bridge from OneDayBow? Well, today we are wrapping up Chapter 13 with a very important piece of equipment: the helmet of salvation, presented to Tim by the King’s Son. Tim’s response? “What will this helmet do?” Good question. The Son replies that it will not only protect, it will also remind Tim that he didn’t get there on his own – and it sure isn’t because of his own strength that he makes the journey in OneDayBow. There is no room for boasting. Tim is kept safe by the Son’s grace: pure, unmerited favor. But if you’re looking for another good reason to take up the helmet of salvation, let’s listen in on what the Son tells Tim next:

“I’ve rescued you from far more than you can comprehend.

I’ve given you a new life and count you as My friend.

This helmet of salvation deflects the tempters’ lie

That says that you cannot be saved – and other tricks they’ll try.”

There you have it! The helmet of salvation does far more than a bike helmet and is much more necessary to protect your grey matter. Deflecting tempters’ lies is huge because the tempters are deceivers, and are good at it… or bad, depending on how you look at it.

As believers, what we have in Christ is certain. As Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) tells us:

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.

Did you get that? The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of what we are saved to! But, is there a reason to deliberately live out our salvation daily? Absolutely! Because this is a fallen and deceptive world (have you noticed that lately? Uh-huh!) we can easily fall into conformity to wrong thinking and action. For our own good, and the good of others, we must have our mind renewed continually in His Truth. (See Romans 12:1-2) It’s not just Tim that has a problem with prideful thinking, careless action, and doubtful thoughts.

It’s easy to read about Tim’s troubles and say, Oh yeah, that Tim definitely needs the helmet of salvation every day. No, we all do!

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 5:17)

If you have received salvation in Jesus, it is on you like a helmet. Live your life with that in mind! It is for your protection, it is there to remind you of the Truth, and it will give you peace of mind.