When Jesus said, “You’re in the world, but not of the world” (John 15:19), He meant that you operate in this physical environment, but with a different set of rules. It reminds of when the children of Israel left Egypt to the Promised Land; they went with their own atmosphere. The Bible says, “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people” (Exodus 13:21-22 NIV).
Everywhere else in the desert was hot and arid, but God’s people were protected by His divine presence. The pillar of cloud shielded them from the scorching heat during the day. At night when it was cold, the pillar of cloud became a pillar of fire and gave them warmth. In the days of Noah, God judged and destroyed the world with a great flood, because the wickedness of man was so great in the earth (Genesis 6:5-8).
However, God instructed Noah to build an ark where he and his family and all he had would take refuge from the deluge. Noah obeyed. When the flood came, it got so high and fierce, destroying all except those in Noah’s ark. While the flood was a form of destruction to some, it bore the ark higher and those inside the ark were preserved. That ark typified Christ. There’s no destruction for the one who’s in Christ; you’re safe and secure in Him for eternity!
The Psalmist said in Psalm 59:16, “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.” He’s a safe place. If you’re born again, you’re in Him; your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Christ is your security, defence, and your fortress. It makes no difference what’s happening out there in the world, refuse to fear. You’re not alone: the greater One lives in you, and you live in Him.
CONFESSION: I’m a new creation in Christ, born into God’s glory. I dwell in safety, and I’m shielded from the insecurity, economic troubles, disappointments, poverty, anger, frustration and discomfort in this world. I’m in Christ, and He’s my defence and salvation. Hallelujah!
Further Study: Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Psalm 91:1-8 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; 6 [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 11:1-13, Judges 1-2
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 27:45-54, Leviticus 6
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