What does it take to be secure? Do you have it? Are you sure you have the right thing? Most times, we have believed to have the right answers to the above questions.
But today, we wish to challenge our knowledge and prove whether it’s real knowledge or a mere assumption based on imagination. When we think of security, what comes into our minds, which we depend on to feel secure? After talking to several people, everyone seemed to have the same answer.
The world today depends on money, personal abilities such as physical strength, and support of neighbors and such – like things for security. But if we look into these things, what kind of security do we find in them? Let us analyze them one by one please.
MONEY: Human beings have felt very secure with money. The rich are termed the strongest on this earth. They do build fortified homes, buy bullet – proof vehicles, and hire fellowmen as bodyguards. They are able to use the money to mobilize people in support of anything they wish to do. With that arrangement, do they become fully secure? We hear of robbers breaking into those fortified houses and killing the owners. We’ve seen rich men perish in wars, accidents and sicknesses. This means that, money doesn’t provide full security, for with it, the rich suffers the same things as the poor.
PERSONAL ABILITIES: One can be very strong; very fast and skilled in fights. He/she can out do others in almost everyway. But we also see such a one to be exposed to dangers of being mobbed, shot, yes, exposed to almost all the dangers that face the weak.
SUPPORT BY PEOPLE: With everybody around us agreeing with everything we say and do, we feel that there is nothing that can threaten us. But even with this full backing, we die under normal circumstances that kill the rest, and those who surround us watch helplessly. Why is it so? Why does it appear like, there is nothing that can give total security?
DO YOU KNOW?
These things we depend on, which we also know to give us full security have here by been disqualified practically. That being the case, is our knowledge, real knowledge? How can we be sure we are secure and what can provide that full security?
Since the wake of mankind, all human beings have begun the wrong way, and have taught this ignorance as knowledge. A good reason is because when they apply it to achieve, their expectations are met with failure and disappointments. The God who created all things, who gives life to the same all and sustains them knows of this ignorance. It concerned Him so deeply that He had to send a messenger from heaven to this earth to. “Open (teach) the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from prison – Isa. 42:7.”
What does this mean? We depend on wealth, self, and fellow men for security, but these things have failed. We don’t know what is next. So we (rich and poor alike) live in fear, sorrow and a bitter life of frustrations. This is what imprisons us. But since we are deceived, we don’t know.
Now, when the messenger, who is Jesus Christ, came to this earth, He began His teaching by warning against this deception, against the assumption that security comes from wealth, self, or other people. He said; “Take heed that no one deceives you – Mat. 24:4”. Yes, many today say that, “you are dead without money”. But practically proven, “you are also dead even with the money.”
After giving that warning about what men teach each other, He went ahead and began to reveal how the things we depend on don’t make us secure. Let’s hear what He teaches about each of them, against what deceived mankind has been teaching.
MONEY (WEALTH). “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not depend on the abundance of his possession – Luke 12:15”. What does He mean here? “Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multiple of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem their brother, — for the redemption of there soul is costly. For he sees wise men die, likewise the fool and senseless person perish and leave their wealth to others – Ps. 49:6 – 10.”
Wealth can only sustain the body as long as it is alive. It is the life in the body that uses the wealth. But Christ taught us that the body perishes at some point and is buried. At this point, the wealth becomes helpless, and useless too. So here, Christ has given us to know that we are not secure with money, since even with it, the death we fear most will overtake us. One can’t pay to help us not to die. We have seen this proven with very wealthy people dying.
PERSONAL ABILITIES AND PEOPLE:
We are very healthy, muscular, real fighter and skilled in all martial arts. We have all men at our side, ready to come to our help in times of need. This is what we’ve always thought of as security?
Christ teaches; “cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength – Jer. 17:5.” Why? “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man in whom there is no help. His spirit departs (he dies), he returns to his earth. In that very day, his plans perishes – Ps. 146:3 – 4.”
Are we getting it? Even though we may have all men, and mighty ones surrounding us, they are not enough for our security. They die, their strength fails, and at times, they can also change and disown us. Once this happens, where will our security be? There will be none. It becomes evident that we’re not secure. For this reason, what we have termed as knowledge is ignorance. But why have almost all people lived in this ignorance?
We witness people depending on these physical things and get disappointed, and then we go forth and depend on the same. Why? Is there no alternative? Is there no real and abiding security?
PURPOSE OF LIFE:
There is a missing dimension in knowledge, which makes us ignorant of the right and true security. It has to do with the purpose of life and how to accomplish it. Our everyday struggle, our every effort to depend on the things we have seen, is geared at making more life, Yes, is aimed at distancing ourselves from death.
But all we seem to know and deal with is the physical things, all of which perish at some point, for our Lord says, “— The heavens will pass away – – Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burnt – up – 2nd Ptr. 3:10,” and again; “The world will pass away – 1John. 2:17.” Now, one may wonder; “Is there anything else apart from the visible physical life?” If the physical will burn up, pass away, then why was it made to begin with?” Yes, why are we here in this physical life?
At this point, lets further listen to what the messenger from God will say about the question. “And God said, “Let us make man in our image and in our likeness and let them have dominion (ruler ship) —- upon the earth – Gen. 1:26.”
Satan has all through used this verse to divert us from the true course, and put us in the insecure life most of us live today. He has taught us that, in this physical life, we are complete (see Gen. 3:4 – 5); we are like God and so, can’t die. What is God saying against this lie? Even though his purpose is to make us spirit beings as He is, and to have us rule in His kingdom, His messenger has revealed that the making is not instantaneous.
It is a process, and we right now are only in the first phase, for He says, “And God made man of the dust (not spirit) of the ground – Gen. 2:7.” This is the first phase, for He continues to reveal that; — it is first the physical and then afterwards the spiritual – 1Cor. 15:46”. See also verse. 49 please. Now, in the first phase, the physical, God clearly shows that, we die, we perish and there is no permanent security for this physical life, for He tells us, “Man that is born of human (physical) is of few days and full of problems – Job. 14: 1-2.” Material wealth, self-strength or, people’s support can’t change this.
Let us understand something here please if we are given to. The deception by Satan portrays this physical life as the only one that God meant for us, and deceives us thinking there are ways we can secure it forever, because we are permanent like God. Since most of us are limited to the physical knowledge, and in it, the only sustenance is the things that wealth and people can supply, then, all we have, as a life-goal is to acquire wealth and win our fellowmen to ourselves, thinking that in them, we have everlasting security, and with that we can live forever.
But that has been disproved by time and events; talking of us in this state, our Lord says; “Man that is in honor and has no understanding is like the beast that perishes – Ps. 49:20.” Why? “Their inward thought is, that their (security) houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations: they call their lands after their own names; — like sheep, they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them – Ps. 49:17.”
Because our efforts and knowledge have hit a block, almost all of us live in fear and sorrow. We panic at every frightening occurrence. Now, I ask: should we live in this hopelessness, waiting for our day to come and we perish like the rest? Yes, is the Christian hope only for this life, for this physical body? No, no, no brethren, our Lord and savior, the only messenger from our Creator, has brought real hope. Hear what He says; “If our hope in Christ is only for this physical life, then we of all men are the most miserable – 1Cor. 15:19.”
Why? Because if all there is for us is the physical life, then we will all die at some point. But as it is, Christ revealed a different life which has to do with the spirit world, and the true purpose in which also, is the true security. This brings us to a new revelation, which is the key purpose for this message.
REAL SECURITY:
Since we have heard Christ opening our minds, by explaining to us the true nature of the physical body and its nourishing agents, let’s have him take us further and tell us what we should do to arrive at the true lasting security.
He says, “And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believe on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day – John. 6:40.” See also John. 11:25 please. I don’t know whether we are getting it. Our Lord is saying that, if we accept and do (believe) what He says (which is the message from our creator), we will have a life that goes on forever, and even if our physical life ends, He will raise us from the dead in the last day.
What is He saying? That the purpose of this physical body and its life is to develop the godly righteous character in preparation for His soon coming kingdom, for He writes; “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and these other things shall be added to you – Mat. 6:33.” If you read the whole of that chapter, you will realize that, Christ is seeing how busy we are with the physical. We are worried about food, clothing, material wealth and the leisure’s of the body.
We are afraid of fellowmen, wars, sicknesses, windstorms, earthquakes, etc. As we’ve seen, we go seeking security from things that also fail. Christ is telling us not to do so. He is hereby telling us to change positions and build on different things. Let’s listen please. “Sell what you have, and give alms; provide yourselves with bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heaven which faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth – Luke. 12:33.”
Do we hear? If it is wealth, it perishes, or can be stolen by thieves and so, it fails, and so is every physical thing. The only sure dependence is of the kingdom of God for which we were created, and the righteous life there in. This is what we should be striving for and the only security we should look for, because it doesn’t fail.
THE CONDITION:
How then can we arrive at this real security? How did we arrive at the physical one, which has failed? Was it not by doing the things that enabled us to get wealth, doing things that attracted people to our support? In the same way, the messenger revealed the way to the everlasting security. He said; “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask whatever you desire and it will be done to you – John. 15:7” And again; “If you want to enter into life (acquire eternal security) keep the commandments – Mat. 19:17.”
Initially, if we wanted rescue from robbers, we will first call other people. We will employ security guys. We will build fortified houses. If it is rescue from war, we look to our governments for protection. Name any problem, and we will go for physical help, which has a limit, yes, which at a certain level, it can’t help. But it is not so with this unfailing security. Once we do everything according to God’s instruction, then He becomes our security in everything.
Remember, this is the almighty God who created all things and, is above all; who controls all things and not a single one can escape His command, whether death, stormy winds, earthquakes, raging armies, name any frightening thing. See Isa. 43:13; Psalms: 119:91.
Let us see some proof of what God is telling us here. As usual, we must cite examples of those who were before us, who depended on Him. Hear this please. “I will love you o Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my – deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold – Ps. 18:1 – 3.”
Did you hear any mention of strong metallic doors, money or many people surrounding one? Not at all. In the spiritual life, it is God securing us in everyway. If it is war, He promises, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. So they rose early in the morning —- and the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon — who had come against Judah, and defeated them – 2nd Chron. 20:15, 20, 22.”
Someone else says this concerning times of war when thousands are being killed. “A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand. But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked (those who trust in the failing physical strength) – Ps. 91:7 – 8.” Some were sick; but when they cried to the lord, “He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction – Ps. 107:20.”
We don’t have to go to details on this. The point is; true and unfailing security is provided by God and Him alone. Our wealth, our strength or, the strength of those who surround us is of no help. So, back to our title question. Are you secure with wealth, with your own mighty or with mighty armies of this world? The answer is no.
This is why the messenger says, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in men – Ps. 118:8 – 9”. By trusting Him and obeying His instructions, we are engaging ourselves to Him for the creation of the second phase, which is spiritual and which begins with developing, the righteous behaviors, and will end with the putting on of the spirit body when Christ returns from heaven.
In the meantime, in these physical bodies, while we continue to train in His way of life, “The Lord will preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. He shall preserve your going out and your coming in – forever more – Ps. 121:7 – 8.” It will only happen if our goal is to achieve eternal life, which only God alone can give. Therefore, having known this, lets stop depending on the perishables, and instead; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge him and He will straighten your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil – Prov. 3:5 – 6.” This is the real security brethren. The only one that can’t fail. Do we believe? Is it the one we are pursuing as Christians? Let everyone examine his or her hearts and be sure.
It is the voice in the wilderness sounding right in your ears, preparing those who will heed it for the second coming of the Lord, and for entry in His kingdom.