The First Rule of Cycling
By: Shelby Carter
My father is an avid cyclist, so as a child, I was constantly reminded of the first rule of cycling - to wear my bicycle helmet any time I went out. I would dread the lecture that would come when my dad saw me riding around the neighborhood with my friends without a helmet. Like most pre-teen or teenage girls, I was far too concerned about the way I looked, and not messing up my hair, to be bothered by what I saw as a silly little piece of foam and plastic. I did not understand the true importance of what my dad was trying to instill in me. My physical safety was his primary concern, but the lesson translates beautifully into our walk with God.
Helmets have come in many variations throughout history. For thousands of years, man has been donning leather and metal helmets to protect themselves in battle. Over time, they have adapted with the needs of man, but their purpose has not changed; they are always used for protection. Construction workers wear hard helmets to protect from sharp objects and power tools, firefighters wear them to protect from burns and falling debris, and football players wear them to protect from concussions and collisions. In World War II, soldiers would paint a white stripe, either vertical or horizontal, to clearly show their rank while in combat. This allowed soldiers to know who to look to for commands or help identify fallen soldiers. Firefighters’ helmets have their name written on the brim and across the front, along with patches depicting their rank or special achievements. Soldiers in the ancient world would engrave their family crest and wear feather plumes to show their status and position. American football players have helmets covered in small stickers to show how many tackles and touchdowns they have. People have always understood the true importance of this piece of equipment and often today, still treat it as a show of their identity and achievements. The helmet is worn to show pride in accomplishments. While protection is a helmet’s main purpose, it has come to be so much more to the one who wears it.
In the 6th chapter of Ephesians, we are told of the armor we are to take up daily to stand against the schemes of the devil. Verse 17 tells us to “take the helmet of salvation.” This helmet is our preservation from harm; it is our deliverance from sin. This helmet indicates the innocent sacrifice that was necessary for our salvation. Yet, despite its importance and significance, I still find myself embarrassed at times to put on my helmet for the same reasons I did as a child. What are other people going to think of my helmet? Will I look silly? Am I going to be accepted by my peers? Will it mess up what I want to do? When I let these thoughts keep me from putting on the whole armor of God, I am neglecting the full purpose of my helmet. Not only is it my protection from evil, but it is my identity. Have I engraved my crest on my helmet, so that you know I am a child of God? Have I put all of my achievements against evil on my helmet? This helmet should be the ultimate display of honor in my life.
There is nothing in this world that should cause us to be ashamed or embarrassed to take up the armor of God. We need to wear it proudly, allowing it to be our identifier to the world.
As David fled Saul and Abimelech - who is also called Achish in Samuel’s account, he understood the power of turning to God for deliverance (1 Sam 21). In Psalm 34:4-5, he declares, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
Paul was a man who had every reason to want to hide his identity both from the Jews and the Christians, yet he suffered for the sake of Christ. He knew that being a child of God was worth any shame or persecution he would endure: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). We have been given a tremendous gift in our armor. This protection does not mean that the world will not try to tear us down, but it is a guarantee that they will not succeed against us.
In the last 20 chapters of Isaiah, we see the people of God, the Israelites - whose identity should have always been in the Lord - continue to reject Him and seek worldly acceptance through pagan worship. Chapter 49 begins with a prophecy of the new Israel, a new child of God who will boldly accept His identity despite the pain and rejection it will cause Him. Chapter 53 talks of the mocking and beatings He will endure and the ultimate death that will come to Him for our sake. And yet, chapter 54 radiates the hope that we have through our identity in Christ. Verses 4 and 5 say, “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.” That is the power of reversal in salvation. When we put on Christ, put on his armor and bear the identity of a child of God, there is nothing to fear, not even death, that God cannot redeem us from.
The hopeful message of chapter 54 continues in verse 17: “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” We are children of the just, merciful, righteous Lord; that is our heritage. So engrave his crest, and don that helmet proudly, and He will be with you.