"The Christian's real safety is not in the absence of danger
but in the presence of a Protector."
A few weeks ago
some missionary friends returned to their Central America field after a short
furlough. On the three-hour drive, somewhere between the airport and home, gunshots forced them to pull over. They and the other missionary family, also just returning to the field, were
threatened, tied up and separated - men from the women and children. All of
their belongings were searched and everything of value was taken - a laptop, clothes, home school materials, everything, right down to
wedding rings. They were finally released unharmed - very much sobered by what had just happened
but also rejoicing that what might have happened did not.
Some time ago a
missionary wrote: "Our security meeting today with 30 mission leaders was a
time of prayer, many tears, and rejoicing to see God working in spite of the
danger here. However, it has been confirmed that ours is the most violent
country in the world. The crime, per
capita, is eight times that
of the United States. North Americans still are a real target. The guerrillas
have increased attacks and are focusing on our city . . . We have learned that
the MK school where our children attend is under guerrilla surveillance."
With this in mind
I began to think of all the missionaries I know or have known that have faced
great dangers or difficulties.
- Some, with their children are in actual physical
danger.
- Others have experienced serious automobile accidents, physical injury,
or life threatening sickness - often with only prehistoric treatment (as
one missionary described it).
- Some have seen spiritual children and whole
churches - a whole lifetime of work - destroyed by an attractive but false
gospel.
- And there are always the more personal, quiet tests and trials.
The list goes on and it's a long one but in all of
this - for the servant of Christ - there is peace,
rest, security.
Our hymns and
gospel songs speak of it: "The Lord's our Rock in Him we
hide; a shelter in the time of storm." Or, Till the Storm Passes By -
"In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face, While the storms howl
above me, And there's no hiding place. In the crash of the thunder, precious
Lord hear my cry, 'Keep me safe till the storm passes by.'"
The Scriptures
take up this theme time and time again: Isaiah wrote, "For you have been a .
. . strength to the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm" (25:4). We
read in Proverbs that, "The fear of man brings a snare but whoever puts
his trust in the Lord will be safe." And here, to be safe literally means,
"set on high"; in one translation, "inaccessibly high"
(29:25). The write of Hebrews quotes the Old Testament: "He has said, 'I
will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is
my Helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me'" (Hebrews 13:5b, 6).
The missionary's
letter went on to ask: "Are we ending our mission here?" The answer:
"No. We're just beginning."
He's not in denial. There's no boasting here; nothing cavalier. He says this with confidence because,
"The Christian's real safety is not in the absence of danger
but in the presence of a Protector."
