GodReflection: Power Words
It was dark. I was young. I was stupid. I left the zone of safety.
Late at night, I found myself in a compromising situation in a South American mega city. Due to intense traffic, my taxi-driver could not cross 10 lanes of traffic to drop me in front of a subway station to catch the train toward my hotel.
Since the subway station and its adjacent streets were new construction the street illumination lacked completion.
As I dodged 60 MPH traffic in the dead of night, it was about lane four—with six to go—the thought crossed my mind the adjective for “dead of night” was about to become a noun for my state—dead.
Surely, an Astronaut felt more confident in survival on a moon mission than I felt assured of survival during my unsafe black of night street crossing.
Safe washed over me as I emerged alive from the tenth and final lane.
Safe is a cozy word. It sounds warm.
When placed in the context of Jesus’ arms the word explodes with comfort and assurance.
I find myself at the stage of life when old hymns I’ve neither thought about nor sung for decades find their way from my memory bank into my mind.
I grew up with Fanny J. Crosby—the blind “Queen of Gospel Song Writers.” Although, she died 32 years prior to my birth she was at my church every week. Her songs were abundant at my childhood Sunday worship. I sang them without comprehension of depth.
One of her works is currently stuck in repeat mode after its surprise reappearance.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast; There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care, safe from the world’s temptations; sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears; only a few more trials, only a few more tears!
Jesus, my heart’s dear refuge, Jesus has died for me; firm on the Rock of Ages ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er; wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.
It falls within Satan’s self-designed job description to create danger and fear. He is on a roll at the moment. Ebola, war, terror, and paranoid fear of the unknown, are just a few of his satanic tools.
Jesus followers perceive a different reality.
Light, salt, yeast, and trust describe my role in an unsafe world. The function of the disciple is to work with God to advance His rule over the hearts of all humankind.
In Jesus, I am safe as I go about the divine task.
As a Christ follower Scripture assures me, the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
I thank God for every degree of safety I experience during my earthly walk.
However, I hope safety on earth is not my ultimate concern. I want to live the eternal dimension expressed by King David, in peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
David wasn’t stoic about death. Sure, he feared it. Yet he understood ultimate reality—with God—there is safety.
The Apostle Paul described safety as absolute trust in Jesus. Although, he often faced death his soul was safe: The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.
Safe is a powerful word when I identify it with the arms of Jesus.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on Safe as a Power Word.
God Reflection 