SECURITY & FEARS

The most natural thing in the world is to protect our lives and concerns. The problem is that our viewpoints and decisions have been very narrowly formed. We have formed our survival decisions when young based on our very limited experiences. Our world view is developed when we are young rather than old, usually healthy rather than sick, usually fearless rather than fearful. When we start facing real problems, we struggle to hold on to what we counted as important to a secure life. We simply are not well prepared for the struggles of life that we are to encounter. We need a security that is unshaken.

False security
False security is the confidence that derives from having a number of our circumstances seemingly cared for. It is false in that the provisions eventually show themselves to be totally inadequate for what we will face. Fear arises when we begin to sense that certain things are beyond our own control. Any security that depends on our own resources and wisdom will eventually prove to be a false security.


True security
True security is the confidence that derives from putting our trust in one who knows all our future needs and has proven his concern and ability to care for us. Our trust is not based on material wealth because it is limited. Nor is it based on a healthy body though this is good. But instead our trust is in the One who provides health and wealth. True security comes from trusting in the God Almighty who cares for you. We trust in God's resources and wisdom rather than our own.

Maybe you have doubts about what I say of false security. I can understand you. You have been trained to survive and prosper. And many of you do well. But this state is only temporary. Let's go through Psalm 91:3-7 and see some of the things which we might not be able to fully prepare for. This writer's experience goes far beyond ours in many areas.

• Snare of the trapper

• Deadly pestilence

• Terror by night

• Arrows by day

• Pestilence in darkness

• Destruction at noon

• Others falling
  

We might think it fine when we have money to pay for a good lawyer, but there are many things we can not easily handle even with cash and influence. Diseases is one of these. I heard there is now only one antibiotic that still works against the bug that enters operating rooms. Only one! We were confident a few years back that we would eliminate all forms of sickness. Now we are finding ourselves swamped with more dangerous sicknesses than before. We don't just have TB (tuberculosis) now but Super-TB.

Actually many things can drive us down, many of them we would never suspect. Bitterness, worry, jealousy, lust, fear, and age are all things that have brought people to brokenness. Before their families were great, but now, we don't want to mention them.

I would encourage you to face life's dangers before you lose out. The resources that we can find are insufficient for the dangers we face. This is why I say - false security. It is safe until we hit something we can't deal with. Then the untame enemy of fear arises. There is a better way.

True security is based on trusting the One who made us and cares for us. Only the Almighty God can help you through all your problems. We can trust our Heavenly Father because He loves us. If we trust our wealth or influence, however, one day we will fall short of help.

Let's take a look at the terms this writer used for God's protection for His people. We will quickly discover that our trust is not in what we have arranged but in Him who does the arranging.

• Dwells in the shelter of the Most High (1)

• Abide in the shadow of the Almighty (1b)

• My refuge (2b)

• My fortress - My God (2b)

• Cover you with his pinions (4)

• Under His wings (4b)

• Shield and bulwark (4c)
  
  

Do you not see the difference between the man using his own resources to battle the inevitable and the man trusting the Almighty to protect and keep his life? If you at all respect Christianity and its teachings, at least don't call God a crutch! Christians are trusting in the Almighty creator God. I will say to you that there is not one problem God cannot solve. He wants us to trust Him. Now I should share with you a little how God works, otherwise you might find all this impossible to believe.

God is not always changing our circumstances. He first wants to change us so that we are His good representatives. You can expect each Christian to live good respectable lives: we call them righteous lives. But when there is a need, God can and will change circumstances. True, we would like Him to change them more quickly, but in His time God will care for our situation.

Please don't think this writer of this Psalm is ignorant of life. He has faced many if not all of the circumstances mentioned. It is his confidence of how God has sustained him that makes him so confident in writing it at all. I'd like to shortly discuss two last things before concluding. We need to know how and why God will do such things. God is sometimes thought to be far away, and I suppose He is. But I know He is also nearby.

1) How does God help us out? Do you believe in angels? You should. They are invisible creatures, though at times, they can make themselves seen. They are God's messengers and warriors. They stand guard over every Christian. God is not limited to using angels but often does use them. Satan used this one verse to tempt Jesus to jump from the top of the temple. He refused not because the angels couldn't help Him but because He shouldn't tempt God. In other words, we are not to create bad situations just to prove God's Word. Instead we can use the everyday difficult circumstances to trust God to help us: troublesome boss, lost affections in marriage, difficult kids, financial difficulties, etc. God specializes in these as well as the many difficulties we just can't begin to deal with including AIDS, hatred, war and even death.

2) But you ask, well why would a great holy God want to help us out? What is the catch? There is no 'catch.' God does not need to get anything from us because we don't have anything to contribute to Him. It is simply because God loves us. He wants to really bless us. We haven't seen anything yet here on earth. God's name is at stake to be by the side of His people who are sick, wounded, hurting, etc. God is there.

I cannot say that I have answered all of your questions as to why these things happen, but I hope you know there is a great and awesome God who wants us to restore our relationship with God.

Don't turn from Him any longer.
Don't be crushed because you haven't trusted Him.

God makes a true difference in each the people who trust Him. I affirm in my life that God is good. "No good thing will He withhold from the upright." If you have put your trust in false security, turn now to God, the true security and with the Psalmist find how God can carry you through the most difficult and fearsome times in your life.