Christian Living
The title, ‘Forever Haven’ suggests some kind of resort or vacation site that fundamentally provides an unending, ever-enduring safety net for its inhabitants.
Sounds absolutely alluring, calming and peaceful, if you ask me, considering the present global security situation.
The ‘Global Village’ status of the world has never been given more credence than now! Many thanks to the faithfulness of media houses towards dutifully disseminating a sense of looming global danger with all urgency! From reports of painful untimely deaths, resulting from bombing and explosion of an oil well in Southern Nigeria, to the news of a bomb blast in Paris, or the murder of a law enforcement agent in Dallas…. More than ever before there is a heightened feeling of tension and uncertainty. So, a ‘Forever Haven’ totally sounds soothing and comforting.
But let me quickly ask, does any such attraction or resting place really exist? Can any President assure citizens of safety and protection from current or pending world dangers?
I took another look at my Bible, and found a Haven created by God Himself! Jerusalem was a haven; a place of safety and refuge. Good for retreat, harbor and security. The city was situated on Mount Zion and carefully surrounded by mountains.
Sounds to me, like a tedious, wearisome and laborious project! Who built Jerusalem on Mount Zion, amidst rocks and mountains?
Apart from my childhood knowledge about how God’s six (6) days of dedicated labor gave birth to the World and all we see in it, my little personal Bible Study reveals that Jerusalem was neither built nor named by the Hebrews.
Dating back to the early bronze age, there was a Canaanite town called Salem, first mentioned in Genesis 14:18, where Abraham met with Melchizedek and offered bread and wine. Melchizedek was King of Salem!
Jeru-Salem is first seen in the Bible in Joshua 10:1. Israel conquered its inhabitants but sadly abandoned it for the Jebusites. Thus necessitating a fight from David and his army to conquer the Jebusites many years later before gaining ownership of the City that would become the capital of Israel.
The Hebrews may have retained the name Jerusalem because of its strikingly deep Hebrew meaning.
Jerusalem is actually a conjugation of two root words; Yara and Shalem and together translates Possession of Peace or Foundation of Peace. Salem or Shalem means complete, full, made ready, quiet, whole, peaceable, perfect. Yara means dual (Jerusalem sits on 2 hills). Yara also means; to cast, to point out, to teach, direct, instruct. So Jerusalem speaks of a ready-made place of peace, security and wholeness where one is pointed to, instructed or taught.
For many days the following scripture kept playing through my mind;
“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so The Lord surrounds His people. From this time forth and forever” Psalm 125:2
When we backtrack a bit to verse 1 of same Bible portion, we get a broader picture;
“Those who trust in The Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever”.
And Joel 3:17 tells us;
“So you shall know that I am The Lord your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, and no aliens shall ever pass through her again”.
Of course there are many other references to Jerusalem in the Bible that are absolutely exciting, but Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!, the above scriptures tells us that God situated Jerusalem on His Holy unmovable Mount Zion, surrounded by mountains.
Obviously Jerusalem exists as a place, a tangible landmark structure! Wouldn’t it be awesome if Jehovah sends forth Angel Michael to blow the trumpet to gather all His children to Jerusalem? Away from all the deafening and unpalatable ill news of misfortunes, mishaps and deaths? I’ll personally like that 🙂
But as we see in Psalm 125:2, Jerusalem is correlated to ‘The Lord’s people’. As the mountains surround Jerusalem,….so The Lord surrounds His people!
I am yet to see any daughter or son of Zion moving around and surrounded by physical mountains though (Selah).
So, where exactly is this place of peace and instruction?
These are my thoughts (and I speak not by revelation knowledge)…
The only place of instruction and safety for the Body of Christ that I know of is in the Word of God (Selah).
Staying in the Word gives instruction and brings wisdom that guides from harm.
Proverbs 1:33 reads;
“For The Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up stores up sound wisdom for the upright, He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. He guards the paths of justice and preserves the way of His saints”.
And Psalm 91:1-2 reassures that;
“He who dwells 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 I will trust”.
Every moment spent studying God’s word reinforces our trust in Him and boosts our faith and daily assures us of God’s ability and willingness to keep safe and secure whatever we entrust to His care.
Yes! The Lord surrounds us as the mountains surround Jerusalem when we make ourselves Jerusalem; a place of instruction and peace by staying in His word. And yes! We can enjoy this benefit of safety, security and peace forever, for as long as we stay in His word and are uncompromising in our dealings. We can then be assured of His Presence and His Power, always and Forever!
A Forever Haven is possible only in The Word, and can be enjoyed by all who has received Christ as Lord and personal Savior.
You can make that decision today. You may want to read a few of my blog posts on how to receive Christ; ‘Could it Have Been a Surrogate Birth? or ‘Dead Man Walking!’.
Love Always.
Except otherwise stated, all Bible quotations are from the New King James Version (NKJV).
