Feeling Secure?

"And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure."

Judges 8:11

People these days go to great lengths to ensure the security of their homes, possessions, and identities.  Layers of identification help online banking and shopping transactions maintain high levels of safety and security.  For this reason it seems ironic Gideon was able to smite the host who encamped east of Nobah and Jogbehah when the scripture says, "...for the host was secure."  The NKJV sheds light on the situation:  "Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure." (emphasis mine)  Shaved Samson who said, "I will arise as at other times and free myself" and did not know the Holy Spirit had left him, faith in self--instead of God alone--makes us complacent and vulnerable.

Being secure and feeling secure are two different things.  Personally there is no tent that makes me feel secure, a thin wall of canvas or nylon separating me from the elements and wild animals.  This feeling of security made them vulnerable to attack.  Because they felt secure perhaps they weren't vigilant to keep watch at all hours, have their weapons at the ready, or devise a battle plan.  This passage provides insight into how our possessions or position in this world can lull us into a false sense of security:  a profitable career, sound health and mind, investments, and money in the bank can cause our faith in God to drift.  Since we feel secure with what the world can provide, what daily need do we have for God?

Jesus spoke a parable about the danger of covetousness in Luke 12:16-21:  "Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' ¹⁸  So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." ' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' ²¹ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  The rich man in the parable had an abundance of food and possessions and felt secure concerning his future.  But in reality he was vulnerable because he had poverty of soul towards God.  He felt secure but did not realise that night God would require his soul.

Genuine fellowship with other believers in the reading and teaching of God's Word keeps us sharp and fit for our Master's use.  The rust of complacency which quickly forms on our faith in God often requires the friction of trials and difficulties to remove.  We need to feel insecure so we will seek God and cry out to Him for protection, provision, and help.  It is ironic much of our labours in this world is to provide feelings of security and independence which hinder a close walk with Jesus.  Praise the LORD as Proverbs 27:17 relationships with God and godly people works to prepare us to face unforeseen conflicts:  "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."  Only God provides security in this life and for all eternity.  Leaning on our own understanding brings false security, but all who place their faith in God can rest assured of His presence and provision for all things.

The Best Gift

There is something universally believed which is a big lie:  there is something on this planet which will provide enduring happiness.  The world and our flesh constantly reinforce the fantasy if our circumstances were different (and better!) we could be satisfied and at rest.  What people forget or are ignorant of is we live on an earth cursed with the consequences of sin.  The only true good news we could receive must come from beyond this world.

We are thirsty for good news and look everywhere to find it.  Like a person in pitch darkness trying to see beyond their nose, we strain to hear good news.  But the thing is, even when we do find welcome news it never lasts because nothing on earth does:  new things grow old, innovations become obsolete, every marriage will someday end, and good health always ends in death.  Seriously, think about it.  "All is vanity and grasping for the wind," said King Solomon after doing everything the richest man on the planet could do.  Solomon had fame, power, riches, and women.  He threw himself into building projects, religion, revelry, music, the arts, sex, alcohol, exotic collections, and possessions.  He sat on his ivory throne covered in gold and thought to himself, "Someday I'm not going to be here to enjoy the wealth and prosperity of this kingdom.  It's going to pass to others who won't appreciate it or even know my name."  And he was right.

Our hopes as human beings are firmly set in believing our circumstances are bound to change for the better:  if we work hard, when we acquire or make our first million, buy a house, have a romantic relationship, have a family and children we will have this feeling of inner peace and satisfaction.  We will have "made it," whatever that means.  But unlike dark clouds that have a silver edge, a positive to draw out of even the worst situation, in everything we long to obtain there are sinister, unseen, and painful heartaches we never counted on.  We like the idea of being famous and acknowledged for excellence, but few consider what it is like to not be able to go to the shops without being mugged for pictures or autographs.  People dream of winning the lottery but don't figure on people they love scheming to rob them of it.  And we are rarely satisfied:  like tattoos, plastic surgery begets more.  No one imagines they will experience complications or death for a common procedure or dentist visit, but it happens.

Into a world of dark hopelessness God in His mercy and grace sent the Light of the World.  We would have been temporarily happy with far less than this truly good news.  We would be ecstatic to hear a civil war ceased (that can start again) or a marriage has been restored (which will certainly one day end) or a health scare has been averted (which for us mortals is at best temporary).  God entered a world bound by time as a human being in the person of Jesus Christ to provide eternal life and hope for all who repent and trust in Him.  We can be adopted into the forever family of God when we respond to His call by being born again.  The hope Jesus brings is not like a carrot dangling in front of us--always out of reach that we cannot receive until our pilgrimage on earth is over--but is ours today and always!  Because of our weak frame and forgetfulness our affections and desires can drift from Jesus Christ, and then we begin to drown in a morass of cares, worries, and dissatisfaction.

About 2,000 years ago, the Messiah Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, wrapped in linen strips, and laid in a feeding trough for animals.  Into a hopeless and cursed world a Saviour was sent to seek and save the lost.  Birthday and Christmas gifts we receive will lose their shine and break, but the love of God demonstrated through Christ's life and sacrificial death for us continues regardless of our possessions or circumstances.  We will experience tough times and fiery trials, but our risen and living LORD Jesus Christ is with us every step as we follow Him forever.  Better than eternal life itself, Jesus truly is the best gift ever given.

Receiving God's Love

I think I can remember the first video game I ever played:  a Mattel "football" game which required a 9-volt battery.  There were no graphics or pictures but a red light which could be directed and controlled by the player.  Since the early days of Apple IIe computers and Atari consoles, gaming has exploded as an industry offering entertainment, online interaction, and competition.  Over the years gaming with my sons has been a hobby I quite enjoy.

The online game I play has a chat feed which I keep during rounds.  I have learned one of the great compliments in the gaming arena is when someone actually bothers to type your name in the chat.  Being accused of hacking is one of the better back-handed compliments--that is, when you are playing fair.  If someone mentions one of our names we will say something to one another like, "You're getting some love on the chat" and it makes for amusing and friendly conversation.  When you are one player being picked on by the other team out of 20 options or your reputation has preceded you, it is a rare reward.

Genuine love can be shown through compliments or criticism, and responding in love to harshness is a fruit of the Spirit.  At this time of year when we remember and celebrate the coming of Jesus to seek and save sinners, we must also consider the life Jesus lived and what He accomplished. Romans 5:8 says of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Jesus called out to all people--not just His countrymen, family, wealthy, or respected--but to the unworthy, weak, and flawed.  He gave all His love to every single person regardless of ethnicity, age, or political leaning.  His entire life was spent in this loving, sacrificial manner for the glory of God.  He gave Himself like no one ever could.

People gauge the success or merriment of Christmas based upon what they "get," but having received Jesus Christ by faith we have all.  Through Christ we can be transformed to living springs of water that refresh thirsty souls because the life of Jesus is ours.  God has given us all things richly to enjoy, yet we need Him to thoroughly enjoy anything.  It is more blessed to give than to receive, and the only way this can be accomplished in us is to receive Jesus who loves us completely.  The love of Jesus Christ is infinitely greater and enduring than any other love in this world.

The Loving Delay

God's love is demonstrated in most unexpected ways.  When Lazarus was deathly ill, his sisters Mary and Martha sent an urgent message to Jesus to alert Him.  Moved by faith, they knew Jesus had the ability to miraculously heal Lazarus and prevent his death.  John 11:4-6 reads, "When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was."  The writer John explained because Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He did not immediately drop everything and depart.  He waited two days before leaving for Bethany knowing by the time they arrived Lazarus would have been dead four days.  Pause for a moment to allow this to sink in.

So often people can imagine what God's love looks like--I know I do.  Since God loves people and nothing is hard for Him, why doesn't He simply do what we ask Him in a reasonable amount of time?  One answer to this question is because His love is greater than us and our apparent needs.  John 11:14-15 shows Jesus was not caught off guard by the severity of the illness of Lazarus and addressing His disciples, "Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."  Jesus was speaking to His faithful followers, not strangers on the street.  There was still additional faith they needed, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead would be a powerful display of His power and love that would save souls from eternal death.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Martha and Mary both lamented the fact Jesus had not arrived sooner because after their brother died all hope for his healing was lost.  But notice what Jesus audibly prayed after the stench of death filled the nostrils of onlookers in John 11:41-44:  "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."  Seeing dead Lazarus rise caused many people to believe Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.  In allowing Lazarus to die there was opportunity for God to demonstrate His love for the living and the dead, for Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

There are times when we have prayed urgently for God to act and nothing seems to change--perhaps things only grew worse!  A sick brother is better than a dead one, right?  But Jesus knew exactly what Lazarus and his sisters were experiencing, what He would do, and the ultimate glorification of God.  Four days for us may last for four decades, but let us never lose heart in God, His power, plans, and His amazing ability to redeem for good.  Paul who was shipwrecked, beaten, flogged, stoned and left for dead for following Jesus wrote in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Paul knew this, as well as Lazarus and many others to this day.  May the knowledge of God's redemptive work Paul spoke of and Jesus demonstrated in John 11 trump our imaginations of what we think God ought to do.