“I have given them Your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.” (John 17:14-15 NLT)
On May 20, 2013 the 2013 Moore tornado struck two public schools during school hours, the second of which was Plaza Towers Elementary. The winds peaked at over 200 mph, killing 24 people and injuring more than 200. Ron Hutchcraft mentioned this storm in one of his recent articles when he wrote: “I’m still thinking about the woman who got her kids from the soon-to-be demolished school just in time and reached her home just in time to get everyone into their recently-built safe room. It was all that was left when the storm passed by. I loved what she said about rebuilding her house. ‘I’ll build it around the safe room.’ That’s a good idea. Not just for a house, but for a life.”
Regardless of where you live, I hope you realize that a violent “storm” with extremely evil intent is roaring through our nations, cities, and homes today. This “storm” is claiming the lives of millions, among them are children and young people who don’t have a clue as to what awaits them until one unexpecting day, like the tornado that leveled much of Moore, Oklahoma, they are swooped away into the hands of men and women who violate them in ways most of our minds can’t even imagine. In light of the evil present in our world today, if the Lord doesn’t come soon, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.
In the verse above, Jesus used the word “world” (“kosmos”) which can refer to the literal physical world, but can also, refer, as Strong’s outlines: “the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.”
The world to which Jesus refers isn’t simply the sun, moon, stars, etc., but the underlying level of evil that permeates the life we live from day to day. We get glimpses in the news, but just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. So, as followers of Jesus, what can we do?
Like the family in Moore, Oklahoma who ran to their “safe room,” we must stand fast in the safety of our living Savior. And please don’t hear what I’m not saying. Knowing Jesus doesn’t protect us from many of the calamities of life, we can expect those. God uses our trials and troubles to build our faith. What I’m talking about is the security of our life in Christ.
We’ve got to know that if a stray bullet shatters our brain, or a “texting” driver plows into our car, or our heart stops without warning, or a tornado sweeps us up, we’re ready to close our eyes in death here and open them in the presence of the living Christ. We have no guarantees of even the next second, but if we have intimacy with Jesus, we can have certainty of our home in heaven, where we’ll be safe for all eternity.
It’s frightening, but necessary for us to know if we’re not walking faithfully with the Lord, that there is no “safe room” for us after this life, only the prospect of an eternity of torment away from the loving Savior who extends an invitation to come to Him, and who has His arms open wide to receive us. But if you miss Him on earth, there’s no second chances in eternity.
Read carefully the words of the great preacher C. H. Spurgeon: “Here is a rock to stand on, a safe resting place for those who trust in Jesus. As for you who do not trust him, your blood is upon your own heads! If you do not trust him, you have no part nor lot in this matter, you shall go down to your own punishment to bear it yourselves; the wrath of God abides on you; you shall find that the blood of Jesus has made no atonement for your sins. You have rejected the invitation that was given, and put far from you the cross of Christ, and upon your heads the pardoning blood shall never drop, and for you it shall never plead, but you must perish under the law, seeing you refuse to be saved under the gospel.” (C. H. Spurgeon Sermon No. 694, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 12, p. 318. {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 694, “Sin Laid on Jesus” 685 @@ “11.”} {See GrkEng 3956})
If you don’t know the forgiveness of sin that only Jesus can provide, please click this link and find hope and help in Jesus today. The Bridge to God | Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.
Blessings, Ed
Walking With Jesus 