The Helmet of Salvation

 

The world is experiencing a period of great anxiety. There have been other times in history in which people suffered plagues, catastrophes, or wars. There is little consolation in knowing others suffered; what matters is, now! To say that the pandemic we’re going through is not as bad as the black plague was, doesn’t help anyone. Minimalizing, or overreacting, to the pandemic is dangerous. Since this is a health situation, we should take advice from health-professionals. Anxiety, is compounded by politicians trying to score points. Some leaders diminish the severity of the virus, some hide from reality, others give away money the country doesn’t have; some do all. Much of the “news” is biased one way or another. What people watch and read depends on their point of view. At times it can feels like we’re in a canoe in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

                                                                   

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.[1] 

 

There are some resources available to offset the anxiety and or depression resulting from the pandemic, and isolation needed to avoid contracting the virus. I’m not sure how effective they are, or how many people use them. The passage above reminds me that for most battles we will fight there is protection. The significant point in the passage is that we do not have to totally rely on our own resources. It appears that God has recommended the personal protective equipment most of us will need. The two items most important to me are, the shield of faith, and, the helmet of salvation. Faith in God, and his promise to reward those who seek him, to me is most comforting. The helmet as well as providing protection, is also a statement of who I am, and who I belong to. I belong to God. The protection provided will not fend off the virus, it is not meant to do that. The battle we face is spiritual. As a number of people have said, “We are not humans having a spiritual experience, but spirits having a human experience.”

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[1] Eph 6:13-17

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