I like being safe. I like being
unsafe. I am cautious and at times I throw caution to the wind. That is me. I
have been skydiving. Yes, I jumped out of a perfectly good air plane. It was
great! I liked having that parachute open. More than my safety I want my loved
ones to be safe. Yet I cannot keep them safe 24/7. Neither can you, by the way.
Yet we both try to great lengths to ensure they are safe and protected. Safety
like that must be 24/7 365 days a year. It cannot take a break or holiday or
vacation. Yet disaster only needs a seam to enter. It is a difficult task
keeping everybody safe. It is impossible. Yet we still try.
How can we keep people safe? We
can build fortresses where good (our loved ones) and evil are separated by a
massive wall. Isolating us in a secure controlled environment. We can control
access to our walled compound by limiting the exchange of ideas, people,
culture and experiences. That will keep us safe…for a while. It raises a problem.
How to determine what/who is safe and who/what is not? Ugh, I thought this
would be easy!
After all a hammer is safe when
hitting a nail but not safe when hitting a person. A pencil is safe when
transcribing scripture or writing a note of encouragement but not so safe when
bullying another or making racial slurs or put downs. A computer is safe when
researching answers for health issues or viewing videos of puppies sleeping in
various positions. But it is not so safe when pornography is displayed or hate
messages are voiced or terrorists recruit a lost soul for a terrible, destructive
plot. So, I guess we have to ban hammers, pencils, and computers from our
walled safe place, right? Are they the problem? No, it’s the people using them.
They are the problem. I guess we have to ban people too. But wait I are a
people too.
I would have to be banned as not
always do I do the safe thing or say the safe words or take the safe actions. I’m
not safe and neither are you. To be safe, we have to be changed at the core of
our being. An inside job must be accomplished before we can keep our family
safe from the most dangerous peril ourselves. Only Jesus can do that work. Only
a soul who dies to self and the delusion of safety claiming Jesus as Savior and
Lord is truly safe. Not because they did anything but because Jesus has done
everything and continues to make our world safer by transforming us into his
image one day at a time. But still how do we know who is being transformed? We
look for fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB
So
we take on the task of inspecting every fruit and nut we come in contact with
and approve who is safe and who is not. Problem, I am a little “fruity and
nutty” on occasion who will deem me safe? What about double agents? Jesus told
is the tares will grow with the wheat. We have to wait for the harvester and
that’s not us. Jesus himself will separate the wheat from the tares at harvest.
In the end our safety comes not from fortresses and walls but from faith and faithfulness
in our Savior and Lord. It comes by telling our story of Jesus to others so
they can be safe from sin in Him. Turns out my wants are met. I am safe!
In
HIS Service and Yours,
Bro G
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