Where Is The Safest Spot On Earth?
The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1-5)
According to some the safest spot on earth is just outside Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a super secure military command center called NORAD. There in the Rockies, under Cheyenne Mountain, a mile deep in the hewn out granite corridors of the mountain, is the heart of America's missile defense center. The main entrance to the complex is approximately one-third of a mile from the North Portal via a tunnel which leads to a pair of steel blast doors each weighing 30 tons. Behind the 30-ton blast doors is a steel building complex built within a 4.5 acre grid of excavated chambers and tunnels surrounded by 2,000 feet of granite. Excavation began for the new NORAD Combat Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain in May 1961 and became completely operational on April 20, 1966. Built at the height of the Cold War it is supposedly able to withstand any bomb blast, chemical or biological weapon. In a word, it was built to be an impenetrable fortress. In the advent of a national disaster, those locked inside this underground city would be able to sustain themselves for two years, but only if you are able to get there in time to avoid the attack. The famous war room in the heart of the complex is supported by 1,300 large shock absorbers designed to protect people and equipment inside from a nearby nuclear strike. The enormous vaulted doors at the complex were rarely closed. The last reported closure of the doors was on Sept. 11, 2001, when officials feared that a plane could hit Cheyenne Mountain.
Interestingly enough, because of changes in international politics and technological advances, Cheyenne Mountain has been somewhat downgraded in its role in national defense. The war room has been moved to a nearby military base and Cheyenne Mountain has been placed in a status the military calls “warm standby,” which means it could be reopened in hours if a need arose. The military’s rational for this move is that the threat of an intercontinental nuclear missile attack against the United States has been greatly reduced since the end of the cold war. But it’s only wise to keep Cheyenne Mountain on standby – just in case.
In Psalm 27 above we are reminded that there is a place, which is far safer than Cheyenne Mountain. You won’t have to get into your car to race there when you are attacked. It is closer than any shelter and stronger than any manmade protection. The safest place in the world is the refuge God has provided for us in Jesus Christ, our hope, our refuge and our salvation. King David who authored this Psalm knew that life can be risky and is filled with opportunities for fear and anxiety. Throughout his life he encountered multiple problems and difficulties. In this Psalm he mentions evil men attacking him, he said they were his enemies, an army besieges him and war breaks out against him. He was surrounded by problems and hardships. Yet in spite of all the turmoil in his life, he knows he could not be a safer place. Where does this sense of security come from?
* David’s confidence is a result of his awareness of the presence of God in the midst his problems. In the midst of his difficulties, David kept focusing on God and not on his difficult situation. He says, “The Lord is my light – He will show me the way.” “The Lord is my salvation – He will deliver me.” “The Lord is the stronghold of my life – He will be my ultimate protection.” David was in a place of safety because he knew who God is and how God was involved in watching over him. If you lose sight of those two basic issues – your world will suddenly become a very frightening place. If you keep these two basic concepts in focus, you will say, “Of whom shall I be afraid?”
* David’s security also comes from the desire of his heart to seek intimacy with God. He says, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” David had his priorities straightened out. He says, “This ONE thing I seek. This ONE thing I ask. The deepest desire in my heart is to spend time with my Lord.” What’s the ONE thing in your life today? The more time we spend in the presence of God, the more security we will experience in life. The opposite of this is true as well. The less amount of time we spend in His presence, the greater amount of fear we face. There is a direct relationship between seeking God’s face and experiencing confidence and peace. Notice David says the Lord sets him high upon a rock. He doesn’t have hide under a large rock to find safety. The security he found in the Lord, set his feet on a solid place that was unmovable, unshakeable and indestructible. He sought God’s face and found himself in a safe place.
Your place of safety is as close as an out-stretched hand and a yearning heart. The refuge He provides is more secure than any mountain and will fill your heart with joy today. Place yourself in the presence of the Lord and you will be in the safest place on earth. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. (1 Chron. 16:11)
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
According to some the safest spot on earth is just outside Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a super secure military command center called NORAD. There in the Rockies, under Cheyenne Mountain, a mile deep in the hewn out granite corridors of the mountain, is the heart of America's missile defense center. The main entrance to the complex is approximately one-third of a mile from the North Portal via a tunnel which leads to a pair of steel blast doors each weighing 30 tons. Behind the 30-ton blast doors is a steel building complex built within a 4.5 acre grid of excavated chambers and tunnels surrounded by 2,000 feet of granite. Excavation began for the new NORAD Combat Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain in May 1961 and became completely operational on April 20, 1966. Built at the height of the Cold War it is supposedly able to withstand any bomb blast, chemical or biological weapon. In a word, it was built to be an impenetrable fortress. In the advent of a national disaster, those locked inside this underground city would be able to sustain themselves for two years, but only if you are able to get there in time to avoid the attack. The famous war room in the heart of the complex is supported by 1,300 large shock absorbers designed to protect people and equipment inside from a nearby nuclear strike. The enormous vaulted doors at the complex were rarely closed. The last reported closure of the doors was on Sept. 11, 2001, when officials feared that a plane could hit Cheyenne Mountain.
Interestingly enough, because of changes in international politics and technological advances, Cheyenne Mountain has been somewhat downgraded in its role in national defense. The war room has been moved to a nearby military base and Cheyenne Mountain has been placed in a status the military calls “warm standby,” which means it could be reopened in hours if a need arose. The military’s rational for this move is that the threat of an intercontinental nuclear missile attack against the United States has been greatly reduced since the end of the cold war. But it’s only wise to keep Cheyenne Mountain on standby – just in case.
In Psalm 27 above we are reminded that there is a place, which is far safer than Cheyenne Mountain. You won’t have to get into your car to race there when you are attacked. It is closer than any shelter and stronger than any manmade protection. The safest place in the world is the refuge God has provided for us in Jesus Christ, our hope, our refuge and our salvation. King David who authored this Psalm knew that life can be risky and is filled with opportunities for fear and anxiety. Throughout his life he encountered multiple problems and difficulties. In this Psalm he mentions evil men attacking him, he said they were his enemies, an army besieges him and war breaks out against him. He was surrounded by problems and hardships. Yet in spite of all the turmoil in his life, he knows he could not be a safer place. Where does this sense of security come from?
* David’s confidence is a result of his awareness of the presence of God in the midst his problems. In the midst of his difficulties, David kept focusing on God and not on his difficult situation. He says, “The Lord is my light – He will show me the way.” “The Lord is my salvation – He will deliver me.” “The Lord is the stronghold of my life – He will be my ultimate protection.” David was in a place of safety because he knew who God is and how God was involved in watching over him. If you lose sight of those two basic issues – your world will suddenly become a very frightening place. If you keep these two basic concepts in focus, you will say, “Of whom shall I be afraid?”
* David’s security also comes from the desire of his heart to seek intimacy with God. He says, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” David had his priorities straightened out. He says, “This ONE thing I seek. This ONE thing I ask. The deepest desire in my heart is to spend time with my Lord.” What’s the ONE thing in your life today? The more time we spend in the presence of God, the more security we will experience in life. The opposite of this is true as well. The less amount of time we spend in His presence, the greater amount of fear we face. There is a direct relationship between seeking God’s face and experiencing confidence and peace. Notice David says the Lord sets him high upon a rock. He doesn’t have hide under a large rock to find safety. The security he found in the Lord, set his feet on a solid place that was unmovable, unshakeable and indestructible. He sought God’s face and found himself in a safe place.
Your place of safety is as close as an out-stretched hand and a yearning heart. The refuge He provides is more secure than any mountain and will fill your heart with joy today. Place yourself in the presence of the Lord and you will be in the safest place on earth. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. (1 Chron. 16:11)
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 11:28 AM
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