Helmet of Salvation

Joshua's Helmet of Salvation

Just like one hard seizure could cause Joshua an injury that would take weeks or months of healing, one decision or choice could cause short or long-term harmful effects in our lives and in the lives of others.

Joshua’s battle with seizures seemed like a constant war between safety and injury.  For protection from the injuries from his grand mal seizures, Joshua began wearing a helmet.  His first helmet was a typical skateboard helmet which protected his head only.  As the seizures worsened, he needed a helmet with even more protection, yet allowed him to eat.  We began searching and searching for just the right helmet and tried several that did not work.  Joshua’s Aunt Debbie Anderson also searched hard and found a downhill biker’s helmet by GYRO with a very secure jaw piece that jutted out past his chin.  Although Joshua aggressively fought wearing this helmet by hitting and banging, we lovingly, very firmly and consistently, put this new GYRO helmet on from the time he woke up until he went to bed (with the exception of a few times when he could safely sit without fear of injury).  Joshua intensely disliked his helmet, but because his fine motor skills were so low, he was not able to undo the strap which held the helmet secure.  This was a blessing!

Joshua’s resistance to this helmet is very symbolic of the “helmet of salvation” referenced in the New Testament.  In Ephesians 6:11-17 we are told to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  Joshua’s helmet was able to lessen the extremely harmful effects of his seizures with the protection the helmet gave his head.  Before Joshua’s helmet, at 6 foot 1 inch, he would fall like a tree straight down at the onset of a seizure.  There was no warning for him or for us.  We were able to catch him so many times.  But for those times that we weren’t quite fast enough, we could not always catch him and he had multiple gashes in his head and chin, broken teeth and two broken jaws.  After Joshua started wearing his helmet, he would still fall down hard from a seizure, but his new helmet saved him numerous times when we were unable to catch him. 

God has given us the helmet of salvation for our spiritual protection.  As we strive to do God’s will and understand His plan for us, we, like Joshua, can find ourselves resistive to putting on the armour of God.  When we do this and resist the protection of the helmet of salvation, it is easy to make wrong choices, to go against the plan of God, and to then fall down hard and face devastating and harmful consequences.  Just like one hard seizure could cause Joshua an injury that would take weeks or months of healing, one decision or choice could cause short or long-term harmful effects in our lives and in the lives of others.

We can remember and think of Joshua and his resistance to his helmet, because he did not have the knowledge or understanding of the safety the helmet provided for him.  We can then look to God and trust in His commandments and His guidance to help us choose the right path, knowing that He always does what is best for us, even when we may not understand, for our learning and growth, which will bring us joy and lead us back to live with Him someday.

The beauty of his smile in this picture shows Joshua's peace, his joy and his security even though the helmet was tough.  His smile symbolizes the joy of his very special journey.