The solid foundations for security

[Ebn Barbara]

As long as we are on this earth, we live in the midst of an evil world, knowing that we will have tribulation just as the Lord has previously warned us. We have to be immune from all the worries of this world, and from all the devil’s attacks, to live the wonderful life that the Lord has prepared for us..

Today we will examine a very important subject that is one of the most important pillars of the immunity we mentioned earlier: “Feeling secure”, that is to be constantly reassured, regardless of the circumstances surrounding us!!!
Because we frequently see among believers deceptions, failures, depression, and many other fears…

We see our life swinging, sometimes ascending and many other times descending..
The main reason for this, is that we have built our security and peace of mind on foundations that are susceptible to collapse most of the time..
And this is similar to what the Lord has said:
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
(Matthew 7:26-27).

Yes.. everyone who builds his security and peace of mind on the sand, that is on unstable foundations, will see them collapse when the winds blow, and the fall will be great..

In other words.. When you draw your work security from your intelligence, self-capability, relationship to the manager or from powerful friends in high places.. or if you draw your financial security from the money you presently own.. or you draw your health security from your scientific knowledge or by going to successful doctors.. or if you draw your relationship security from being surrounded by a big number of friends.. or if you draw your family security from your constant and scrupulous surveillance of your children and their behavior.. and so on and so forth of other foundations you built for yourself.. you will be exposed to many deceptions and shakings, that might be violent most of the time..

Because the minute your relationship to your manager deteriorates or if he is replaced by someone else, you will find yourself anxious and confused.. the minute the financial situation gets worse, you will find yourself disturbed and anxious about the future.. the minute your health or the health of a family member gets worse, and you don’t find the remedy for it through your medical knowledge or through the doctors, you will be frightened.. the minute one of your friends betrays you, you will be depressed, feeling bitter and rejected.. and the minute you discover that one of your children is hiding something bad, you might collapse..
You will be exposed to all this because you built the foundations of your personal security on the sand.. and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on those foundations; and they fell. And great was their fall..

Whereas the solid solution is what the Lord said in the same passage:
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25).

Yes.. the foundations of our security and peace of mind have to be built on the eternal rock.. On the Lord Jesus and on His word and unchanging promises to us, which will never change nor be affected, no matter how long and strong the winds and the storms blow on them..

Yes.. the Lord will give us grace in the eyes of the people who are in charge of anything concerning us.. He gave us skills, and He placed skilled doctors in our midst, He gave us friends, and He asked us to raise our children and watch over them.. but.. while we are surrounded by all those things, and we perform the role assigned to us in all the areas, our eyes have to be fixed on the giver and the guarantor, and not on the things given.. For His word says:
“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high… He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge” (Isaiah 33:5-6).
He is the only guarantor.. Perhaps what Nehemiah said will clarify more:
“… And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.” (Nehemiah 2:8).
The king granted Nehemiah his request.. but Nehemiah realized in his heart, that the real reason that made the king give him his request, was the protection of the Lord for him.. and this is what we have to do to live in security and peace of mind.

Examine with me the following verses to realize more what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today:
“But You are He who took me out of the womb; You made me trust while on my mother’s breasts.” (Psalm 22:9).

“Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, A tabernacle that will not be taken down; Not one of its stakes will ever be removed” (Isaiah 33:20).

“Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; No one shall make him afraid.” (Jeremiah 46:27).

“And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.”
(Ezekiel 33:30).
All the foundations of security in these passages are built on the rock, on the word of the Lord and His promises.. this is why they will be solid and firm, they will not be moved or collapse, no matter how circumstances will change or get more difficult..

Other passages from the word of God:
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments… Surely he will never be shaken… He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid” (Psalm 112).

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven” (Psalm 11).
The righteous who built the foundations of his security and peace of mind on the Lord will not be afraid nor shaken and will not fear evil tidings.. or any changes.. He will not fear even if all the foundations are destroyed, because he realizes that the Lord is always on His throne, controlling all the circumstances and changes, and makes them work for his benefit, and this God sitting on the throne is his Father who loves him with an unconditional love. And He also sacrificed His only son for us when we were still sinners, so how can He give up on us now that we are his beloved children!!!

Now let us examine this important passage of the word of God that clarifies more our present meditation:
The story is about the prophet Daniel under the reign of king Darius. Daniel has reached to a high position in the kingdom, as he was just under the king, he has also obtained his favor, for the king loved him very much, but Daniel was a man of God in the full meaning of the word, and because of that he didn’t draw his security from his position or his relationship to the king, and not even from the king’s love to him, because if he did, he would have paid a very expensive price when a conspiracy was devised against him by the governors who had succeeded to trick king Darius, and made him sign a decree to throw everyone who makes a petition to a God or human other than the king, in the lions’ den, knowing that Daniel always prays to God, and that this decree will apply to him. Come let us read together:
“… ‘That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.’ And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, ‘know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.’ So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke saying to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.’… Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of the lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.’ Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.” (Daniel 6:13-23).

You cannot doubt the sincerity of the king or his love to Daniel, for he was angry with himself for signing the decree that allowed to throw Daniel in the lions’ den, and he strived to save Daniel, he fasted and didn’t allow musicians before him, also he didn’t sleep during the night, and very early in the morning he went to the lions’ den to be reassured about Daniel.. But..
His love was powerless.. not useful.. even his authority and position as a king, were also powerless..

And if Daniel was counting on the king’s love for him and his authority the lions would have devoured him.. rather he was relying on the Lord.. and the word says: So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God..
Daniel built his security on solid foundations.. the word of the Lord and his promises and love, so he was saved.
And this is what the prophet Isaiah says:
“If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established.” (Isaiah 7:9).

This is what the king Jehoshaphat did and said, when a great multitude came against him, which scared him, but he wasn’t arrogant trying to rely on fake security foundations, so he didn’t prepare his army, and he didn’t rely on the fortifications of the cities, like other kings did, rather he set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah, and he prayed to the Lord, and he gave Him the glory that He deserves, and he humbled himself in front of the Lord, saying to Him: For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.
Then came the eternal and unchanging solution that the word of God recorded for us:
“Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established”.
And all that this king did was to appoint those who should sing to the Lord and those who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against this great multitude, and they were defeated, and none escaped. (2 Chronicles 20:1-24).

What the king Jehoshaphat did, according to the military concept, is completely crazy.. but in the sight of God, which is more important, it is having faith in the love of God, and in His powerful arms.. For this reason the Lord fought for His people, and rescued them, and defeated their enemies, and none of them escaped..

And in the New Testament, when facing difficult diseases, and evil bondages, and even death, there is only one solution: Believe, you will be established.
“While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?’ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’ (Mark 5:35).
This is a categorical word, you don’t need any other: Only believe.

Another significant incident:
“‘Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid…’ Then they brought him to Him (i.e. to the Lord). And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:17-24).
Again the only solution that the Lord personally offers:
If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.

Finally, a small summary:
If you build your security on foundations other than the word of the Lord and His promises, you will be like a house built on the sand, when the winds blow and the rain descends, it will fall and great will be its fall..

So how can I be secure and have peace of mind? Just believe.. in the Lord and in His word, His promises and His unconditional love..
And if you cannot believe.. do as the boy’s father did.. cry out with tears and tell Him:
Help my unbelief.. and He will certainly do that.

Be constantly in the presence of the Lord, either through your daily quiet time, your readings of the word and the promises that you need, or through steadily attending the prayer meetings, through listening to anointed sermons, and through reading spiritual books.. for this environment will create faith inside of you and make it grow, and when you face any trial or evil attack, you will find faith ready within you, so you will believe and be established..

And clear away from your life the major hindrance to faith, which is the sin that you welcome and do not resist.. because if you keep sins in your life, that you don’t resist seriously, and that you welcome, you will never find faith within you..

And I invite you after you have read this meditation, to remove with your hand, today before tomorrow, all the foundations on which you have built your security and peace of mind, other than the word of the Lord, His promises and His love, so when the rain descends and the winds blow, your house will stand and not fall like the one built on the sand which fall will be great.. and you won’t get hurt.

Believe and you will be established.. there is no other solution.. To the Lord all the glory!!!