Safety in a chaotic world

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.” Psalm 46:1-3.

            My son and I were watching World News with David Muir (ABC) the other night, when a report came on about a young boy being snatched by an alligator at a Disney World Resort. Unbelievable! My son turned to me and said “Mom, now there’s no place in this world where we can be safe anymore!”

            Such truth. There is no place, on this earth, where we can hide from death. Not at school, not in a movie theater, not at a marathon, not even at church. Everywhere we turn, there is violence, evil, sickness, natural disasters and disease. Death loiters in all places, even at Disney World which is supposed to be the “happiest place on earth”.

            So what should we do? Lock ourselves in our homes and never go out? No, death is not our enemy. Fear is. Fear is the foe who prowls about, seeking whom he can terrorize. To feel fear is human, to let fear rule our lives is turmoil.

The Word of God assures us that He holds our lives in His hands and He determines when each person will be born and when he/she will die. “Man’s days are determined. You (God) have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Job 14:5. Our lives are not a roll of the dice, a spin of the wheel of life and death. No, our God and creator has planned our days and we are immortal until the day God has decreed in advance.

            This is not to say that we should live recklessly, mindless of rational measures that might save us from danger (seatbelts, life jackets, etc. ) But it is a reminder that God is in control and we should not live a life of fear, nor fear death itself. For death is simply the end of the foreword of our lives and the beginning of our eternal story.

            Our refuge is found, not in a place, but in a person; Jesus-Christ. In Him, we can find perfect peace in a world full of chaos. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, please surrender your life to Him today and make Him your Savior and Lord. Who knows what tomorrow holds?

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

Words by Martin Luther.