The Secret Place

"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 fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.'

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over your, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trampled underfoot. 'Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

At yesterday's church service, one of the sermons was based on the above - Psalm 91, and these words have echoed in my heart long after the service was over. After reading the words above, how can you not want to leave everything and move to this Secret Place? It promises to provide a safe cocoon - nestled up high, away from all the worries, illness and troubles of the world. It's a safe haven and 24/7 protection from anything the Devil may throw at you.

This Secret Place is not an ultimate destination though, instead it's fluid - it is the place where people live according to God's word, the point where people's trust is in God completely...it's the definition of peace.

In his sermon, my pastor painted a scene of one such place. Imagine a raging ocean, dark storm clouds and pouring cold rain destroying everything in it's way. And then you spot it - a small boat, whose sails long lost their battle with the sea and now hang in defeat, torn and lifeless. And right below them - a man standing still, with his arms wrapped ferociously around a small child - this child's face embodies peace - wrapped in his father's arms, even the most savage storm doesn't worry him, because he knows his father is all-powerful and is safe from any harm.

Even if you're in the midst of a battlefield, and "a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand," you'll be protected, because thousands of angels erect an invincible fortress around you. The Bible is scattered of examples of The Secret Place.

Take, Lot and this conversation Abraham had with God, asking if he would really destroy a whole city when one of His own resides within it's walls. And God answers, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." Nor for one righteous person, or two, or three. The whole city may burn up in flames or drown in a endless waves, but you will be safe.

We have to remember though that The Secret Place is only for the righteous though. If we take even one step off high ground, we plunge into darkness and into reality where earthly concerns pile up to our right and to our left - bills to be paid, children dying, war, violence and pain. And we stand utterly alone.

But, if we keep His commandments and live according to God's word, then we travel through life in this the Secret Place. And yes, we'll encounter the world's problems, but His angels will be there to lift you if you hit your foot on a stone, encounter a deadly cobra or a roaring line. Not even the mostly deathly situation should scare us, because we're safe.

I think making a few personal sacrifices to spend life in The Secret Place is totally worth it, don't you think?

-YB