The Myth of Safety

The myth of safety lies shattered at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Whether we are in a movie theater, an office building, a school room, a college campus, or a sporting event, we are no more safe than if we were on the front lines in Afghanistan. Those on the front lines are constantly aware of the danger. However, in day-to-day life we believe the lie that we are entitled to safety. The truth is that we are only as safe as God has purposed for us to be.

 

It is the lie of the Enemy that laws, regulations, police protection, armies, and air bags will keep us safe. All of these things have a place. But they cannot overcome the evil within the human heart. 

 

When Adam and Eve fell, they naturally did things they had never done. Even though they had never experienced a lie, they lied. Cain had never heard of or seen a murder, yet he killed his own brother.  At the fall the human heart went to war with God and with anyone or any thing that stood in the way of its lust and desires. The Enemy now had a whole army to join him in his war with God – the human race. (Ephesians 2:1-3) 

 

The Boston Marathon appears to be a positive, harmless event. But it became a target of terror, of the evil of the human heart. Yes, what happened in Boston is, at its core, an act of spiritual war. This is why terrorists care little for their own lives. They have believed the spiritual lie that the slaughter of innocents is a good thing and it is pleasing to their god.  

 

Whether it is the act of a single, violent young man or the terrorism of religious zealots or the terrorism of nations vowing destruction to others, war and collateral damage is inevitable. In this sense, no one is safe.

 

No event or activity is beyond the reach of spiritual evil. Don’t teach your children the myth that they are safe from danger.  Teach them that true safety is found in believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. War, in all of its ugly forms, will rage on this planet until Christ returns. Some will suffer harm waging this war. Some will suffer harm as the targets of this war. Some will suffer harm fighting against those waging this war. (This is why we owe a debt of gratitude to first responders and our military.) No one is exempt. This is the truth that the media will never report. They have believed the myth that we are entitled to safety. 

 

You cannot promise your children they will be safe from this ugly war.  What you can promise is that God is faithful and will one day bring an end to every tear. Living for God is the only course that will bring peace and ultimately, safety. We can experience this in part here on earth and know it fully in God’s good time. Tell your children.

 

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4

 

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