Protect By God’s Word

Not long ago I heard a story repeated which was reportedly told by an Illinois mother who was rejoicing with renewed faith and excitedly sharing her prayers of thanksgiving.  Her excitement was caused by a letter that she had received from her son who was fighting in the war.  He wrote that the New Testament she had given him before he left had saved his life.   They were penned down in an intense fire fight when a bullet hit his helmet.  It penetrated the helmet, but did so in the exact spot where he had stashed his mother’s small New Testament.  Consequently, the bullet was sufficiently deflected so that he had only received a superficial flesh wound on his head.  In the letter he thanked her for the parting admonition she had given him, “Son, always keep this bible with you.” for in doing so his life had literally been saved.   

Of course, this was not what the young man’s mother had in mind when she urged him to keep his bible with him, but neither mother nor son will ever be convinced that his life being saved by a New Testament in his helmet was anything but God’s providential protection.  God’s word is the sword which the Christian uses to protect his soul against the attacks of Satan,  ( Eph. 6: 17 )   Even Jesus used it in this way to stave off the temptations of Satan in the wilderness. ( Matt. 4: 4 ff ) That’s why the Psalmist declared, “Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” ( Psa. 119:97 ).  May we all obediently keep the Bible and its holy precepts close at hand.