Do You Have A Safe Room?
Do You Have A Safe Room?
By Bud Hancock
Could it be possible there is a way that one can become free, and stay free, of all harm from danger and disease? This might sound like a trick question, but it is not. Speaking to many people through the years, many of whom have now passed on, my own mother included, there was a sort of consensus that, when a person reaches advanced age and death becomes more or less inevitable, he or she does not ‘just die’, they ‘must’ die OF something, some disease or evil act of tragedy. It seems to have been absent from their thoughts that a person could just pass on to his or her reward, in peace, by making a decision rather than having his or her death caused by disease or tragedy.
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his ‘son in the faith’, and these words from that letter are recorded in 2 Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come”. In that letter, in the verses that follow, Paul described the human condition in the last days, of unsaved people, the very people who make such perils inevitable. I know that we all live in a very dangerous, corrupted world, a world where there is constant danger, either from evil persons, or diseases, waiting to claim more victims. So, to live free from disease or harm, it would certainly be of help to have a place that provides protection from both, a place of refuge where evil cannot enter in and disease does not cause harm. I know most people, even Christians, maybe especially Christians, will claim that such a place does not exist. But, in reality, it does, and the world calls its version of it a ‘safe room’. To this date, many people have built them into their residences, as a shelter in case of emergencies such as storms or terror attacks. However, the safe room is only effective if you manage to get into it in time to avoid the storm or attack.
Has God actually provided something, some place, where a believer can truly BE safe, and, not just ‘feel safe’? Or are we left alone to make our way, day by day, through this awful mess we find ourselves in? I find it difficult to believe this is the case, since God has promised that His presence would be with us at all times: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV). This scripture indicates that we should expect to have peace, the real peace that comes from knowing we have access to His presence, and as a result, we should not walk in fear of anything.
The ‘Safe Room’
So, to repeat the question: If there is a real place where a believer can find safety, shelter and refuge, where exactly is it? We are given a wonderful promise: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the almighty”. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2 KJV).
The ‘safe rooms’ the world depends on for protection in emergencies are usually reinforced with dense, impenetrable materials that should protect its inhabitants from outside dangers; in addition, they are usually ‘hidden from view’ or are kept ‘secret’. When a safe room is designed and built properly, it will provide COMPLETE protection from any danger. The average cost of a ‘pre-constructed’ safe room for family use is between $4,000 and $24,000, depending on its size and how it is furnished with necessities, and should, by design, provide protection for all harm due to storms and physical attacks. When one finds himself protected from all harm, especially in a time of great danger, the result can be a life of peace. Also, most safe rooms are kept securely locked when not in use so that they cannot be accessed by intruders.
So, if we truly believe that we DO have our own ‘safe room’, in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty, as the word has promised, how do we find it, and how do we get into it when we DO find it?
Access to the Safe Room
If we believe we have this promised presence from God, and the peace that ensues from His presence, it follows that, no matter where we go, no matter what we do, we can expect Him to be there to keep us from all harm, and always bail us out if need be, right? Not quite. Read the first part of the scripture again: “Let your conversation (behavior) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: For He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
What is so important to realize is that God expects certain actions from us in order to have access to His presence. Experiencing the presence of God should be, or quickly become, the paramount pursuit of a believer. It shows that we need nothing other than what we can receive from, or because of, the favor of God. He wants to be the supplier of all our needs as well as the One we look to for our protection, our shelter, our safety. Being covetous is one action that can separate us from His presence.
God requires a commitment to Him and His Lordship and when we are willing to make that commitment, we should certainly expect to experience His presence. And I do not mean experience it in a ‘spooky, eerie sense’ that gives goosebumps or chills. Don’t misunderstand me; there is nothing wrong with goosebumps and chills, but if you actually think that’s the only way that God manifests Himself, then you have been watching way too much science fiction on TV. The great Old Testament prophet, Elijah, who was in mortal danger because his life was being threatened by the wicked woman, Jezebel, was made to realize that God was not necessarily found in a great wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but in a ‘still small voice’ when he was quietly waiting on God for His help. (1 kings 19 KJV).
Entering the Safe Room
We are told in Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Our Lord expects us to recognize Him for His character, meaning Who and What He is, and to be thankful to Him for all his many blessings. Thanksgiving and praise can be a raucous noise, a joyful noise, such as may be experienced in a church praise and worship service, but it does not necessarily have to be so. I have experienced the most wonderful times of fellowship, in His presence, during my quiet times with Him. What matters most is the attitude of our hearts when we try to enter His presence. We can also enter His presence during prayer to Him. James, the half-brother of Jesus, said: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b KJV).
I think what a great number of Christians fail to consider is the nature of God as it relates to His relationship with us as His children. From my own experience growing up, I remember that when trying to get my Dad to do something for me, I was much more successful when I remembered to thank him in advance, believing/knowing that, because he loved me, he would be willing to grant my request, as long as it was legitimate and reasonable. I have also experienced the same thing in my relationship with my own children. When they offered sincere thanks for what I provided for them, I was much more agreeable to their requests. But, one thing that has always stopped me from considering a request from them is being taken for granted. If that bothered me as a ‘human father’, imagine how grieved God must be when He is flooded with requests for something and that request is not made in an attitude of gratefulness and is not accompanied by thanksgiving and praise. The right attitude will make access into God’s presence much easier.
Our Safe Room Offers Protection From…What?
If we truly believe that God’s presence offers security and protection from harm, we should endeavor to know what that really means. If “dwelling in the ‘secret place of the Most High” and “abiding under the shadow of the Almighty” is important to us, then exactly what are we protected from? Let’s go again to Psalm 91 and learn what the word says: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” When you are ‘dwelling’ in God’s secret place, plagues are forbidden in that Holy Presence.
Our ‘safe room’ protection includes 1) the snare of the fowler, 2) the noisome pestilence, 3) the terror by night 4), the arrow that flies by day, 5) the pestilence that walketh in darkness, 6) the destruction that wasteth at noonday, and 7) no plague can come near our dwelling, because our dwelling is ‘in the secret place of the Most high’ and ’under His shadow’. Finally, we are promised 8) freedom from the fear that can bring torment to a believer, which is one of the worst things a believer can experience. We are promised that even though thousands fall all around us, the destruction will not come near us. In a few words, the reason this protection works is that none of these evils can exist in God’s presence. He is the creator of all things, He is holy and perfect, He exists in perfect peace and nothing can cause Him harm, so, anyone who is allowed into His presence is granted the same peace and safety that God has.
I want to dwell a little on the physical protections included in God’s Safe Room. If, as the word says, God is concerned that we not be harmed by any of the dangers listed above, where does that put us relative to our physical health? Would it not be reasonable to believe that He is also concerned about our daily health issues? After all, the word claims that, wherever Jesus went, He healed all who trusted in His ability to eliminate disease and sickness (Matthew 4:24, Matthew 12:15, Luke 4:40, Luke 6:19 KJV). When they exercised their faith in His supernatural abilities, they received what they trusted Him for, in every case. So, it appears to be evident that, since God does not change, and has not changed (Malachi 3:6), Jesus DID, and still DOES, care about the health of His people. What a blessing that we have a saviour who really cares enough about us to challenge every sickness and disease that can attack our bodies, when we make the decision to exercise our faith in Him.
However, imagine how much better life could be if we lived in an atmosphere of complete safety and protection so that all disease and sicknesses that Satan uses to try to destroy us had no ability to penetrate that atmosphere, rendering us safe from them all BEFORE they attack us. Now allow me to challenge the religious beliefs and traditions that so many have allowed to creep into their thinking, saying that ‘the days of supernatural healing ended with Jesus’. I have heard that so many times, and it cannot be supported by scripture. That false claim cannot be true since after Jesus death, burial and resurrection, His disciples also went about healing the sick (Acts 3:1-9, 16 KJV and Acts 5:15-16 KJV).
And we, as the body of Christ, should also have the same power that was upon Jesus’s disciples so that, when the sick are in our presence, they should be healed. Unfortunately, the Church has almost abandoned the belief that believers, using the faith that Jesus gave us, have power over sickness and disease. It is then no wonder that the present day Church is either missing, or neglecting, the faith required to be good witnesses of the grace, mercy and power of God to the world.
I have a hard time even imagining that Jesus would have told His disciples: “Now, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature; but make sure they know that the window on this healing stuff will close when I return to my Father in heaven, After that, make sure they know how important it is for them to submit to all the latest and greatest ‘medical inventions’ and drugs. After all, I only promoted this healing stuff for the first three years of my ministry to get the world’s attention, and then, I got tired (in other words, I CHANGED) and decided to let the world’s medical professionals take charge of the health of my beloved disciples.” If this were even remotely possible, it would mean that all of us are eternally lost and headed for hell, since it would mean that God is a liar, because He said many times, “I am the Lord, I change NOT” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). Believe me, if Satan can prove that God changed, there is no hope for any of us, either in this life or the life after death.
If we truly learn that God has provided a ‘safe room’ for us, in His secret place, and under His shadow (Psalm 91:1 KJV), then whenever we encounter sickness and disease, whether in our own bodies or in the bodies of those we meet, we should be able to impart that same healing power that Jesus, Peter, John and the other disciples did in their day. The key is to not only learn and believe that the safe room exists, but learn how to access it and how to remain in it always. Remember, we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4 KJV). Remaining in that wonderful place requires much prayer and meditation on His word. Since none of us has seen Jesus, we only have access to that place by believing His word, using our God-given faith, not our physical senses.
In these very perilous days in which we now live, and only a supremely ignorant person could claim that these present times are no more perilous that at any other time in history , are you ready to find your safe room and experience the ultimate security, protection and blessings that are there in His secret place and under His feathers? Start with Psalm 91:1, and allow the truth of God’s word to lead you toward it and eventually into it. The room is there, the peace and safety are there, but you must make the effort to find it and access it. Trust me, that effort will be worth it when you find your life of peace in God’s ‘safe room’!
Blessings!