Safety is an illusive pursuit. It is possible to purchase elaborate safety features for a new car and still be involved in an accident due to poor driving. Or one could have an excellent plan for physical health with proper diet and exercise and then become sick contracting a contagious disease. Laws can be passed that attempt to make us safe. But these laws will not protect against the evil of the human heart.
Tomorrow is the 17th anniversary of 9/11, a chilling reminder of darkness of the heart. The Bible teaches us that evil is the natural state of all humans. Evil, wicked actions are a part of life, whether we pass laws to the contrary or not.
It is comforting to know that the control and power of God extends even to the actions of evil men. We know this from many places in Scripture, here are two verses that speak to this issue:
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. —Genesis 50:20
Here, Joseph was speaking to his brothers about the evil actions they had done against him. The truth is that even though his brothers sold him into slavery because they hated him, the Lord of the Universe was in control of their actions, to bring about good for them and for all of mankind.
The second passage is found in Romans 8:28:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
This verse would be meaningless if God is not controlling the actions of all men and events. God is able to make all things work together for good. This is a tremendous comfort when life hurts due to the wicked actions of people or from from sickness.
Therefore, safety lies, not in avoiding evil or in being healthy, but in being joined to God. Acts 17 states that God has set the boundaries where all men will live, and gives them their next breath, so that they would reach out and perhaps seek Him.
This means that safety is not a matter of where you are but who you are. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ makes you safe when evil intersects your life. Being safe is a by-product of knowing God. Anyone separated from God is the one who is not safe. Those who died on September 11, 2001, knowing Christ, were safe then, they are safe now, and they will be safe throughout all eternity. God is the source of peace and safety because he alone knows the future. He is the comforter of the sick and sorrowing. He has promised to be our place of safety and our rock, no matter the circumstances (Psalm 62).
Being safe is a matter of knowing God.