Safe and Secure

Abram, pack your bags! We're going on a trip (not in our favorite rocket ship). Where are we going? To a place I will show you.

Does that sound safe? No.

Joseph, you're going to Egypt. You'll be sold into slavery, accused of rape, betrayed by inmates. Just you wait...

Does that sound safe? No.

Moses, you're going to be raised in a palace. Awesome, right? But you're going to the desert. Not before you stand before Pharoah and make a declaration to let God's people go.

Does that sound safe? No.

Esther, you're beautiful! Haman, he's jealous of you and your family. He's ready to drop the hammer. But I've chosen you, Esther. You're going to stand before the king.

Does that sound safe? No.

Daniel, you're going to Babylon. You and you're boys get ready. It's going to be hot. They're raising the temperature of the furnace and the lions are hungry.

Does that sound safe? No.

Can somebody please tell me the difference between safe and secure?

Safe removes all risks. Safe stays close to the shore. Safe huddles up in spaces that require very little sacrifice.

It appears that we've created a watered down version of Christianity in the Western world. Where we play it safe and keep it sanitized with occasional drippings of our favorite Bible verses on coffee mugs and Instagram photos.

We make our weekly visits to cathedrals of consumerism splashed with melodies of musical preference and therapeutic sermons; hoping we aren't hard-pressed to make sacrifices or come under grave conviction for our lavish lifestyles driven by comfort and entertainment.

Secure is holding to the confidence granted by God that no matter the circumstances He's going to accomplish His eternal purposes for all the world to see His glory. That in spite of moments like betrayal and brokenness God will fulfill the plan He established before the foundation of the world.

When Peter and John were in custody of the religious elite, their lives were in danger. They were threatened. Bullied. Meant to be made scared. It wasn't safe. But they were secure.

They charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Their response, "Whether it is right to listen to you rather than God, you judge. We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

Many who call themselves Christians have an idealistic view that life is meant to be safe. Easy. Fun. Comfortable. But these ideals were never meant to be the driving force of our commitment.

Christians are called to trust and obey. To believe His promise. To feel secure.

No doubt, Peter and John remembered Jesus' response to Pilate's threats when he said, "Don't you know that I have the authority to release you or to crucify you?"

And Jesus responded, "You would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above." That's bold. That's the words of someone who's secure.

Too many Christians are preoccupied by the limits of their own safety devices. Living in our safe neighborhoods. Driving our safe cars. Playing with our safe friends. Working our safe jobs. Keeping tabs on our safe bank accounts. Enjoying our safe vacations. Planning for our safe retirement.

And we seldom consider the thought that safe was never the intent. Faith is. Trusting God by putting our lives on the front lines of obedience. And rather than shrinking back in fear that we'll be threatened, punished, criticized, or rejected; we are called to stand up. Stand out. Live by faith.

God's not asking for monumental faith or a radical display of obedience. He's asking for moment by moment faith. That each decision flow through the channel of His eternal promise to be with you. He's always with you! That's the difference between safe and secure!