A Place of Safety!
by Lt. Col. Gordon "Jack" Mohr AUS Ret."Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name." - Psalm 91:14
Several months ago, I wrote a short pamphlet titled THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S PSALM, it contains the scriptural basis upon which you can base your physical safety. In reality it is a Divine Insurance Policy, if you will, for those who are willing to "pay the premiums
This pamphlet, A PLACE OF SAFETY, is also written about the 91st Psalm and is the result of inspiration I received from Special Alert No. 112, published by DESTINY PUBLISHING CO., P.O. Box 177, Merrimac, MA 01860, titled THE DIVINE INSURANCE POLICY. Parts of this pamphlet I will quote "ver batim" from their publication. I suggest you write to them and ask for their publication. While this information is delivered in a somewhat different format in THE PLACE OF SAFETY, I am sure you will see the similarity. I wanted you to know that the original idea was not mine, but came from the Destiny article.
Every week, I receive letters and telephone calls from men and women who are gravely concerned over conditions in our country and the world. They often ask: "What can we do? Where can we go to insure the safety of our family?" Just a few days ago, I received a long distance telephone call from a young Baptist pastor in Oregon. He was deeply concerned by what he saw happening in his church. He told me: "I have been in contact with Pastor Earl Jones in New Mexico and through him with the tapes and writings of former Pastor Shelton Emry (deceased) of Phoenix, Arizona. What I have heard from these two men, makes more sense that what I ever heard in the Seminary. What can I do to prepare myself and family for the days which lie ahead? I know the Rapture teaching is false. I saw through that a long time ago. I know Christians are going to go through a time of testing such as has never been seen before, but what can I do to prepare myself and my loved ones for this ordeal?"
This is a sensible man's request and is the cry of literally tens of thousands of concerned Christians, who are able and willing to look beyond the saccharine sweetness of worldly entertainment; the pablum being fed to Christians in most churches, and realize that indeed we are facing perilous times and that our Lord expects us to prepare for them.
Some write asking: "What is the safest location in America?" Many are worried about their investments and want to know whether they should convert their holdings to silver and gold?
Almost without exception, thinking men and women are concerned about the future. But unfortunately, the great majority of Americans are "scatterbrains" who refuse to look beyond today and who are willing to live for what they can get out of the present moment. These often laugh at those of us who are concerned and who look beyond the end of our nose at what is happening in the world. They will be the one's who come to us for help, when disaster strikes.
But there are a few folks, comparatively few in number, who go about their daily duties with a serenity which can only come from one source. They have a "Formula for Survival", a "Divine Insurance Policy", if you will, written by Almighty God Himself, and they KNOW they can trust the future to Him.
In a day when "men's hearts are failing them from fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth," as Jesus prophesied in Luke 21:26, and a day which is already here. Men need something on which to build their hopes for the future.
Today, one of the biggest killers in AMERICA is "suicide", often caused by fear. It is the number one killer among the college crowd and the psychologists and psychiatrists, who have been trained to show us what is wrong, are killing themselves off by suicide, four times faster than the rest of us "nuts". Why? Because they to are afraid and do not have an answer for the problems which are "bugging" us.
But to those who carry the Divine Insurance Policy, Jesus said: "And when these things (the famines, pestilences, wars, fear) begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH." Hallelu'yah! Instead of being depressed and "down in the mouth," God's people should be excited by these events, for it is a sign of the King's return.
God's FORMULA FOR SURVIVAL provides a safe dwelling place for those of us who are willing to trust Him and pay the premium. This is a conversion of our "earthly assets" into "eternal treasures." The price of doing this is high indeed, but if you are willing to meet God's requirements now, this Insurance Policy will pay dividends of a thousand fold. Someone has rightly said: "Being in God's service doesn't pay very much, (except for charlatans like Swaggart and Bakker) but the retirement benefits are 'out of this world.' " Or we could more accurately say: "The retirement benefits will be in another age." For we will spend eternity with Him, here on this earth. This renovated earth will be our home, not some fluffy cloud in the heavens. It will be in the Kingdom Age, which lies just ahead. It will be in the age Jesus asked us to pray for when He said: "Thy (God's) Kingdom come; Thy will be done, in EARTH, as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10; Luke 11:2). I will not waste time at this point arguing about whether a Christian will spend eternity in the heavens, or on this earth. A study of the scriptures will reveal this truth to you. But you can be sure of one thing and that is that God's Insurance Policy will give you protection, not only now, but in the future ages of eternity.
It takes a great deal of "faith" to meet the conditions of this "eternal policy", and I'm speaking here about the scriptural definition of "faith". It is found in the great "faith" chapter of Hebrews 11:1 - "Now FAITH is the substance (ground for) things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Then in 2 Cor. 4:18, the Apostle Paul explains further - ". . . for the things which are seen are (carnal - fleshly, material things) temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal".
When you are willing to take time from a busy life schedule to study God's Word, you begin to understand something about God's plan and purpose for your life. Then you can, if you will, come under the protection promised in God's Divine Policy and can walk in the midst of chaos and confusion, with a confident quietness and peace that others do not have.
But we MUST fulfill our part of the agreement, or there will be no participation in, or protection under God's Divine plan.
Think for a moment about the possibility of nuclear warfare. We know there is no earthly provision which can give us complete protection. Even if we had the money to build underground shelters, there would be no escaping the poison of contamination. Yet God says to those of us who are willing to follow His directions: "Thou shalt not be AFRAID for the terror by night; or for the arrow (missile) that flieth by day. . . nor for the pestilence (nuclear fallout; germ warfare) that walketh in darkness: nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday". (Psalm 91:5, 6)
Suppose some earthly insurance company was able to write a policy like that. A policy that could guarantee you protection from evil men upon your person and that of your family, with added provisions that no disease caused by bacteriological warfare could ever touch you during a time of war and that during times of violence and destruction, you and your loved one's would remain unharmed! Just suppose for a moment! "Unheard of! Impossible!" you say. Yet this is the Formula for Survival our God offers to you if you will only pay the premiums. And, yes, my friend, there is a price you MUST pay. This mighty policy is not "free".
Your salvation is free. It is a "gift of God," to all who are "the called, according to His purpose," (Rom. 8:28; Rom. 6:23).
But the promise of Divine protection found in Psalm 91 is given only to those who have "made the Lord their refuge, and the Most High, their habitation". (home). (vs.1).
To those who are willing to "pay the rent," if you will, for living in the "secret place of the most High," God has promised a special body guard to make sure that the terms of His contract are carried out at all times. In vs. 11 we are told: "For He (God) shall give His angels charge over thee (those who dwell in His secret place) to keep thee in ALL thy ways". If you are one of those who doesn't believe in angels, I don't know where this leaves you!
But notice something very important, that most Christians completely disregard. Many have a tendency to say: "I'm saved and that's all that really matters." But I want to remind you that there is much more to "salvation" than merely recognizing Jesus Christ as King. It goes far beyond going forward to some church altar and signing a "commitment card," that you have accepted Christ as Savior. When a man or woman recognizes themselves as a sinner, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, repents and turns from their wicked ways, and accepts the leadership of the King, that is just the beginning. From there on, their responsibility to God and their fellow men, increases a thousand fold.
In verse 13 we are told that those who have this Heavenly Policy will be active in their warfare against evil, for they will "tread upon the lion, and the adder (asp or cobra); the young lion, and the dragon (Hebrew - meaning: "land or sea monster", possibly the crocodile) shalt thou trample (Hebrew - trample under feet"; "tread upon; trample under foot").
All these animals and reptiles are figuratively representative of the enemies of God and the Christian. All are fierce. The roar of a mature lion and the bellow of a bull crocodile are meant to cause fear. The hiss of an aroused cobra is a fearsome sou~d. All are used to intimidate and frighten their intended victims. But the Christian, who "abides in the secret place of the Almighty'," and who holds God's Insurance Policy, does not fear them because his policy says: "you will trample God's and your enemies underfoot!"
You don't hear this message of Christian hope preached in many church nowadays. Very few preachers use Hebrews 12:4, which admonishes the Christian: "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood; striving against sin". That English word "resisted" comes from a Greek word which literally means: "to send troops against". It is a martial term, the term of a Christian soldier. The word "striving" means to "struggle against". Paul said: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers 6f the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6:12) Far too many Christians take this to read: "For we WRESTLE NOT!" PERIOD!
Paul goes on to explain in Romans 8:17 that if we really are children of God "then heirs (Greek meaning: "an inheritor; a possessor; a heir") of God and joint-heirs (Greek - "a~participant in common; a fellow heir with) with Christ". But notice the condition laid down for this "common heirship". "If so be that we SUFFER with Him, that we may also be glorified together". That word SUFFER, goes much deeper than having someone laugh at you because you are a Christian, or because you bow your heads and pray before you eat in a restaurant. It goes, much deeper than knocking on some door and inviting a person to come to church; it goes even deeper than witnessing to someone about what the Lord has done for you and what He can do for them. The Greek word for "suffer" is "sumpascho" which means: "to experience pain jointly, or of the same kind; to be persecuted". Have you ever suffered physical pain in defense of your King? Have you ever been really persecuted for righteousness sake?
Remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:10, 11 - "Blessed are ye which are PERSECUTED for righteousness sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake".
Have you ever had anyone deliberately lie about you because of the stand you have taken against evil? Have you ever had a newspaper reporter tear your reputation apart with his lies, because of your stand for Jesus Christ? We are given to understand in Revelation that it is only the Christian "overcomer," who will "rule and reign" with Christ in His Kingdom. It will not come to those Christians who get into the Kingdom by the "skin of their teeth," so to speak. In 1 Cor. 3:13 we read: "For every man's work shall be made manifest (known): for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire: the the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire". There are going to be a lot of Christians who get into the Kingdom, but they will not live in the glory they thought they would have, because they never sent forward suitable building material. You can't expect to live in a "silver lined mansion," as the song says, unless you send "mansion building material" forward. This is the meaning of Rev. 2:26 - "He that OVERCOMETH, and keepeth my (Christ's) works (laws) unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations". AGAIN IN Rev. 3:21 - "To him that OVERCOMETH will I (Christ) grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in His throne
You don't OVERCOME by hiding in some comfortable, air-conditioned spiritual foxhole, folding your holy hands in prayer, as you ask God to handle the dirty work He gave you to do. You don't OVERCOME, waiting for the Lord to RAPTURE you out of the mess caused by your own apathy, and you will never "rule and reign with the King," until you are first willing to "Occupy for Him!" As I said before, this means much more than just telling folks that you are a Christian, or praying a nice prayer in church; or even heading up the Ladies Missionary Society. "OCCUPYING" is a soldier's task. It is military duty, done by the Christian soldier. There is no "sissy stuff" connected with it; no "panty-waisted; sissy-britches; good Lord; good devil" heresy.
The terms of the Divine Insurance Policy clearly states: "If you love me, keep my commandments (laws)", (John 14:15). In vs. 21 the King said: "He that hath my commandments (law) and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest (make known) myself to him".
Notice carefully, verse 24: "He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings. . ." (2 John 6) - "And this is love, that we walk after His commandments (law). In vs. 9, 10, 11, we are told very clearly who those are which abide not in the doctrine of Christ. These are the anti-Christ's which are clearly defined in 1 John 2:22, 23. In vs. 10, 11 of 2 John, we are told that we MUST not receive them in any manner; we MUST not aid them in any manner, for if we do "we become partakers in their evil deeds". Maybe we should think about this verse, before we give "aid and comfort" to Christ's enemies in Palestine, who are attempting to usurp His Kingdom there.
Do you and your church abide by this provision in God's Word? Or do~you advocate helping the false Jews in Palestine and elsewhere? "Those who say they are Jews, and are not; but are of the synagogue of Satan," (Rev. 2:9; 3:9).
If you support the King's enemies, there is no way you can come under His protection. You cannot support His enemies and be His friend!
Yet most of us know that it is suicidal to carry on an aggressive fight against this powerful entrenched enemy, which has taken over control of our government in America. So your God has made a provision to protect you, if you are willing to abide in His will. Vs. 14 says: "Because he (the Christian) has set his love on me (Jesus Christ), therefore (because of this), I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name". (The Hebrew word for "Known" literally means: "recognized; discovered; caused to be known; have respect for).
Does this mean that we must use the old Hebrew terms for God in the Old Testament and call Him YAHWEH? And use the Greek terms in the New Testament and call Him YASHUAH in order to receive His blessing? I think not!
The prophets told us that Israel was to have "a new name and a new language," see Isaiah 28:11. (This does not refer to the charismatic "speaking in tongues, or glossalalia"). Mark 16:17, echoing this prophesy says: "They shall speak with new tongues,"(languages). The "tongues" of Acts 2:4 and 1 Cor. 12:10, were not some strange "heavenly language," but actual languages which men understood. Acts 2:6, speaking of the day of Pentecost, says: "And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold are not these which speak Galileans? And now hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born". (See also Isa. 62:2; 65:15). If Israel was to be called by a "new name" (Christian) and have a "new language," which I believe is English, I see no reason why we should use the old Hebrew name for God, or the Greek word for Jesus. I am a Christian American, I speak English, therefore I use the English words for GOD and JESUS CHRIST. It is not my purpose to belittle or criticize those of you who want to use the old words, but they are not for me. I will have no argument with those of you who want to use the ancient terms.
To the man or woman who have consecrated their life and possessions to the King's service, and where the King and His business comes first in their lives, before all else, then the Divine Insurance Policy guarantees: "He shall call upon me (God) and 1 will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation". What a precious promise! What more could any man or woman want out of life?
This Insurance Policy does not guarantee you freedom from trouble or adversity, for no one can stand against evil and evil men without courting persecution and trouble. But it does guarantee you protection against them.
While no amount of money can purchase this policy, it can be had by all Christians who are willing to comply with the King's requirements and who are willing to enter into His service. (This does not conic automatically when you are "saved".)
This is a desire, inherent in all men and women, for peace and security. Sometimes it becomes so strong that they are willing to give up their freedom for a "little temporary security." We see this in evidence all around us in this age.
Because of this desire, men and women have set up human methods by which they hope to cope with disaster when it comes. They are anxious to protect themselves against material losses of all kinds through fire insurance, flood, windstorm, earthquake, sickness and even death. These forms of so-called insurance have become recognized as necessities of life by modern civilization.
Government has tried to step in and give added security through old age pensions, Social Security, Medi-care, you name it! But all these government insurances are built on the shaky foundation, on the premise that our present system will continue.
What do you think would happen in America, if the banks closed, and the social security checks, and the welfare and pension checks came to a screeching halt? There would be utter pandemonium, followed by bloodshed in the streets. Why? Because a government of men and by men is always insecure. There are many things which can destroy it? Abraham Lincoln recognized this inherent danger when he said in a speech that if destruction ever came to America, it would come from within. He said: "We will live through all time as free men, or die of suicide!"
We have sixty centuries of history which prove that of the 23 great civilizations which existed, all have been destroyed from within by moral and spiritual subversion, long before the barbarians swarmed over their walls, or battered down their gates.
Today with economic collapse as a real possibility, with the advent of nuclear war, men's hearts are really failing them through fear! Men are apprehensive of the future and well they might be. So some, who are willing to plan for the future, are looking for places of safety for their family, usually some remote area where they can stockpile food, supplies, guns and ammunition, hoping upon hope, than when disaster comes, they will be able to cope with it.
I am not making fun of these by any means, for I have preached "survival" for our people for over ten years, since 1 learned that the RAPTURE theory taught in our churches, was a Jewish ploy to neutralize Christian soldiers. The Apostle Paul tells Christians to prepare and says that a man who will not "provide for his own (family) and especially those of his own house (kinfolks), has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1 Tim. 5:8). You can be absolutely sure that Paul's use of the word provide, covers PROTECTION too.
But with today's means of warfare, with hydrogen bombs, bacteriological and chemical warfare, there is no place on earth which is absolutely safe. Now death dealing elements can blanket a continent.
A few years ago, people could survive within a few miles of a battle zone, but no longer. Perhaps this is what the prophet Ezekiel envisioned when he wrote (6:12) - "He that is far off shall die of the pestilence (disease); and he that is near shall fall by the sword (conventional warfare); and he that remaineth and is beseiged shall die of famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them." Who is God speaking of? Those disobedient people who refuse His Kingship.
In Esdras 16:19-20 are these interesting words: "Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment (correction of errors; improvement). But for all these things they shall not turn back from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges". This is the same meaning we find in Rev. 9:20 - "And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands . . . neither repented of their murders, nor their sorceries, nor their fornication, nor their thefts".
Further in 11 Esdras 1:28-32 we see how there will only be ten left alive in an entire city, "for the earth shall be laid waste."
But the man and woman who really loves God, and who is willing to place Him first in their lives, before everything else, need not be overly concerned for their safety, for God has promised them that He will give his angels charge over them, to keep them in all their ways (Psalm 91:11).
But in order to have this protection, the Christian must first "abide in the secret place of the most High". What is this secret place? How may we enter it? The Hebrew word for Most High, as used here is ELYON. It is one of God's Hebrew names. It does not designate "Creator," but shows God as "Possessor of heaven and earth". ELYON is associated with Jesus Christ who is declared to be the Son of ELYON, (Luke 1:32-35). The Apostle John speaks of Jesus Christ as dwelling in the "secret place" of ELYON (John 1:18). This place is associated with the glory Jesus Christ had before He came to earth, to be born in a human body. In John 17:5, we listen as Jesus prays to His Father: "And now, O Father, glorify me with thine own self with the glory I had with Thee, before the world was".
To the nominal Christian who is devoted to selfish, materialistic pursuits and desires, the full understanding of what salvation through Jesus Christ is all about, is a mystery. Even many pastors do not understand its true meaning. As a result, we see men and women with their names on some church roll; men and women who attend church regularly and give to the church, and who give it their time, yet are completely unmindful of the wonderful prize which can be theirs.
It is only those who have set their heart on the goal of placing Christ first in their lives, who can have the knowledge and understanding of what it means to "abide in the secret place of the most High."
Some Christians profess to believe in the "security of the believer." This teaching is that once a person is "saved," as they say, there is nothing you can do, or anyone else for that matter, which might cause you to lose your "salvation," and through this "eternal life." I am not here to argue this "pro" or "con". But many of the people who profess this, have never passed from "death unto life," (1 John 3:14).
Eternal life is not conferred when one comes forward to a church altar, and weeps and cries a bit, then gets baptized and joins the church. This is not what "saves" a person.
Salvation can come only as a person is called by the Holy Spirit. "For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:14) In verses 29, 30, we have an indication that God "predestinated" these people to become His sons. Even when one is called by the Spirit, they must respond. The first step in this response is "repentance for having broken God's law a man or woman, before they can come to God asking for forgiveness, MUST first recognize that they have been rebels against the King and that having deliberately disobeyed His law, they are guilty of death, since "the wages of sin is death. . ." (Rom. 6:23) Men and women are led to this knowledge through the Holy Spirit "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God," (Rom. 8:14).
Jesus told His followers in John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". Then in Rom. 8:15 we are told: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear..."
While we who love God and strive to serve Him with "all our soul, and strength, and mind," have not achieved perfection, (and the Bible tells us that any man who says he has reached perfection is a "liar", (1 John 1:10]) we have no words to describe what it will be like when we see the King in His Kingdom glory. The Apostle Paul attempting to describe this, quoted from Isa. 64:4 - "But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." (1 Cor. 2:9)
This is not some "pie in the sky" promise. It is a promise of the wonderful things which will take place in the King's earthly kingdom.
Unfortunately, in our modern society, even among professing Christians, a higher priority is often placed on preserving our material possessions and our personal safety, than in pleasing God.
We see this principle in operation every day. Men and women will go to almost any lengths to protect their possessions, but few will take care of their personal health through watching the food they eat and the water they drink. On most any day, you can see the busy pedestrian as he crossed the street with little regard for the flow of traffic. It is almost as though we feel that it is the duty of the other fellow to protect us and be responsible for our safety. Aren't we following a rather warped concept when we continually endanger our lives by the stupid things we do and expect perfect strangers to be responsible for our safety?
It should come as no surprise, that as we see that day of calamity come, men and women are more concerned with their possessions, than with their personal relationship with God.
Do you recall the story Jesus told about the wealthy farmer who had a bumper crop. He tore down his barns arid built bigger ones to take care of the bountiful harvest. Then he relaxed and told himself: "Eat, drink and be merry. You have everything you need." The Bible tells us that God said to him; "Thou fool, this night thy soul will be required of thee. Who will your possessions belong to the?" (Luke 12:20)
The Rich Young Ruler who came to Jesus, asking how He might obtain eternal life, went away sad because the Master told him to sell his goods, give them to the poor and come and follow Him. Shortly thereafter, no doubt, this wealthy man lost his goods and was killed during the destruction of Jerusalem.
Today, Christians are being offered a Pearl of Great Price. The price we pay for this Pearl of Security during calamity, is the value we place on our lives and what we possess. In order to obtain security, and that magnificent Pearl, we must be willing to turn away from all our worldly wealth and power and from the Babylonian System which so many of us love so dearly. We need to turn our backs on the "delicacies of Egypt" and be content with the "spiritual manna" God gives to those who love Him. Your gold, and silver, and precious stones will not survive as assets in the Kingdom, for these are all products of the Babylonian system. In Ezek. 7:19, we read: "They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord . .
There is only one way we can convert wealth acquired under Mammon into treasures in the Kingdom, and there are very few who have the faith and willingness to convert their possessions into interest-bearing dividends in the Kingdom.
The only way we can be sure our possessions and our Ivies are safe, is as we are willing to convert them into Kingdom treasure, always available for use by the King, as He sees fit. (This does not mean that we need to be stupid and give to charlatans like the Jim Bakker's of this world).
Multitudes in the church world are striving to preserve their material possessions, not realizing that they are losing their kingdom benefits and that they could very well be among those Jesus spoke to in Matt. 7:22, 23 - "Many will say to me in that day, Lord! Lord! have we not prophesied in your name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful things? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye who work iniquity." (That word "iniquity," means "disobedience," or "sin," which according to 1 John 3:5, is violation of God's law!)
Noah was not able to save many possessions when he took his family aboard the ark. Lot lost everything he possessed, because he desired to live in wicked Sodom. Jeremiah prophesied to many Israelites who lost their lives and their possessions when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.
Today we live in such a time and happy is the man or woman, who recognizing the times and seasons which are upon us, are willing to convert their material possession into Kingdom ut wsure, trust Him in everything and thus find the HAVEN OF REFUGE, as part of His Divine Insurance Plan.
The End