Secure In An Unsafe World

WWII General Omar N. Bradley has been quoted as saying, “We live in a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants, in a world that has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We have solved the mystery of the atom and forgotten the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about dying than we know about living.” Truer words have never been said.

It seems, as the story goes that during the Civil War (1861 - 1865) in this country, there was a young man from a border state between the Union and the Confederacy. This young man was asked if he favored the cause of the Union or that of states’ rights. His reply was that he was not going to take sides but was going to steer a course of seeking peace with both. In order to show his lack of animosity toward either side he dressed to fit the part. That is, he put on a blue blazer to represent the good old USA and a pair of gray pants to show his appreciation for the cause of the South. Sometime later he was found dead with a mini-ball from a southern rifle through his blue blazer and a union bullet in his thigh, shot through his gray pants. A fictional story most likely but a scenario most folks today are emulating in hopes everything is going to be okay with the world. Neutrality and globalism will only lead to a Godless dictatorship with no liberty.

[Psalm 20; Psalm 46] How can we be secure living in an unsafe world? The Psalmists tells us through their own experiences: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). That’s where we can find true security and peace. In Psalm 46, we are reminded of three things – First: Our Security is in God, not in this world. We have only one source of security - God. When hurricanes or wildfires or earthquakes occur, when wars break out or governments fail, health deteriorates, or friends betray, God is our only security. Despite all of our advances, our world is no safer today than it was when Psalm 46 was written. We need to turn to God, to find rest for our souls. The psalmists wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10). The Bible also says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7-8). Second: Our Security comes from our Faith, not from our circumstances. The writers of Psalm 46 were able to feel secure, not because of circumstances but because God was with them. God is within the city, and therefore it will not fall (Psalm 46:5). And, “The Lord Almighty is with us...” (Psalm 46:7). Our faith in the presence of God gives us hope and security. There are those who live in great prosperity with lots of money and possessions (good circumstances) yet, their lives are consumed with worry and fear. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Psalm 125:1). Third: Our Security is in Eternity, not in the Present. “Come and see the works of the Lord...” (Psalm 46:8a). The fact is, ultimately, God wins. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God works in all the situations of our lives to bring about His good. As Christians, we understand that there is evil in the world. But we also know that God is in the world and He is much stronger than evil. With God by our sides, we can overcome the worst of circumstances, and we are assured of a home beyond this present reality. Put on the Armor of God and stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-18).