Sep
22
Safe at Home
Filed Under Devotional
During my younger years, I spent many summers riding my bike through the neighborhood, through the nearby orchards, and down to the convenience store to buy nickel candy. There was the enticement of (minor) danger and adventure by riding over a mile away from my home. Still, there was always a sense of relief when I got back to my street, because I felt safer there. If anyone ever got hurt on one of our excursions or we had something remotely scary happen, we always headed for home. That was our natural reaction. That was the safest place we knew.
I thought about this idea of heading for home when there’s trouble. Inherent in that idea is that you are never so far away from home that you can’t get back. When things start to get rough or don’t go your way, do you just plant yourself where you are and ride it out with your own strength? Or, do you try to get back to a safe place to regroup and get help?
I was reminded of all this when reading about the spies in Jericho and what they told Rahab about the promise they just made to her about protecting her family when they came back in force:
“The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.” ” Joshua 2:17-19
This is a picture of Christ’s Salvation. If, when trouble comes, you stay in the streets, you’re on your own. You’ll have to defend yourself. However, if you are in the house being protected, then Christ will take responsibility for you. Furthermore, if, when the end comes, you don’t have a protected home to run to, your blood is on your own head.
Where is home for you? Where do you run when things get tough? Where will you go when it gets rough out there? Where will you be when Christ enters the land again?