Discover the Book - June 25, 2008

The Safest Spot in the Universe

The safest spot on earth is just outside Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a super secure military command center called NORAD. There in the Rockies, under Cheyenne Mountain, a mile deep in the granite corridors, is the heart of America's missile defense center.

The main entrance to the complex is approximately one-third of a mile from the North Portal via a tunnel which leads to a pair of steel Blast Doors each weighing 25 tons. Behind the 25-ton blast doors is a steel building complex built within a 4.5 acre grid of excavated chambers and tunnels and surrounded by 2,000 feet of granite. Excavation began for the new NORAD Combat Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain in May 1961. The excavation was nearly complete one year later.

Built at the height of the Cold War and able to withstand any bomb blast, chemical or biological weapon--it is self sustaining for those inside for two years. But only if you are able to get there in time to avoid the attack.

The safest spot in the universe, that is even safer than Cheyenne Mountain, is also the closest. Closer than that military center, closer than your safe room, closer than a shelter, closer than anything else--is the refuge God has designed.

Jesus Christ our hope, our refuge, and our salvation--is one thought away, one prayer away. He is as close as a cry, as close as an out-stretched hand, or an upturned heart. Anyone, anywhere can instantly arrive in that safest of all places--from any location.

Turn to Hebrews 6 as we look again at these precious words of security, comfort and hope!

Hebrews 6:17-20 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

This refuge is the safest spot in the universe. But how do we get there? God's Word says we come by "laying hold of the hope set before us” (v. 18). What is that hope? It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  

1 Timothy 1:1. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope.”

The safest spot in the universe is in the embrace of Jesus. The only way to have assurance of salvation, a strong confidence, and a steadfast hope, is to seek refuge in God by embracing Jesus Christ, who is our only hope of salvation[1].

So how near is Christ? To answer that let me share the following story that was told by Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) who traveled for more than 50 years as a home missionary, evangelist and Bible teacher.  He was pastor of Moody Memorial Church, a visiting professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and the author of more than 60 books and pamphlets. The following is a tract he wrote called “The Way of Peace”.

Dr. Charles Berry was one of the first of the so-called New Theology men, who preached salvation by character rather than by the atoning blood of Christ, salvation by ethical culture rather than by personal faith in the Lord Jesus, salvation by reformation rather than by regeneration.  Popular, eloquent and personally pleasing, he attracted large audiences, who hung upon his words and depended upon him as their spiritual mentor.

But a great change was seen in his preaching, which resulted from a new experience with God, which revolutionized his thinking.  In telling his friend Dr. Jowett about it, he said that late one stormy night, as he was preparing to retire, the doorbell rang.  When he went down and opened the door, there stood a poorly dressed young woman who asked if he was the minister.  Upon being assured that he was, she begged him to go with her at once to get her mother in.

He thought that she meant that her poor mother was out in the storm and the darkness in an intoxicated condition; so he demurred, saying he could hardly be expected to go out and get her mother in and suggested that she see a policeman who might give the help required.

The girl explained that her mother was not drunk and added, "You must come with me.  My mother is dying, and she is afraid to die.  She wants to go to heaven, but she doesn't know how to get in." I told her I'd get a preacher to take her in. "Do come, Sir, and get my mother in.”

He now understood that the dying woman needed someone who could show her the way of salvation, but he hesitated, thinking it was hardly a case for him.  He urged the girl to go to a missionary living near the wretched locality in which she lived.  But she refused.  She insisted she wanted a real minister and begged him to go with her.  "Do come, sir.  I want you to get my mother in before it's too late.  Please, sir, do come with me."

At last he consented to go, and the girl led the way to one of the worst sections of the city.  In this miserable neighborhood she took him into a tenement house and up a rickety flight of stairs to a poverty-stricken room.  Downstairs many men and women were drinking and carousing, and the air resounded with horrid oaths and vile language.  The minister found the poor woman lying on a miserable makeshift of a bed, evidently near to death.

"I've brought him!" exclaimed the daughter.  "I've got the minister from the big church where the swells go. He'll get you in, Mother.  Just do what he says." "What can I do for you, my poor woman?" he inquired as kindly as he could. "Why, sir, I'm dying, and I want you to get me into heaven.  I've been a great sinner, and I don't know how to get in." The minister began to speak of the necessity of a good life, of building a noble character, and how goodness always paid in the end. "You don't understand, sir!" she cried.  "That won't do!  I'm dying and I've lived a bad life.  It's too late for me. Oh, can't you get me in?" He tried again and gave some good advice and endeavored to comfort her by expressing the hope that all would be well if she would only seek to lead a Christian life. "That won't do!" she exclaimed.  "I'm a poor sinner!  I've no time to lead a Christian life.  I'm dying and I want to go in.  Oh, can't you tell me how I may get into heaven?"

Dr. Berry did not know what to say or how to comfort her.  At last he thought, "Why not tell her what my mother used to tell me?  Why not give her some of the simple texts and Gospel stories I learned as a child?"

With this in mind he began to repeat some of the precious Gospel verses telling of God's love for sinners and of the Savior who had died to redeem.  The woman listened eagerly.  "That's it!  That ought to get me in, shouldn't it!  Did he die for sinners?  Then that should get me in."

Stirred to the depths of his own being he told the story of the cross as he had not preached it for years.  Like a thirsty soul, she drank in the living water.  Finally, he knelt and prayed with her.  She trusted Christ for herself.  Her fears were allayed, and she entered into peace. "Jowett," said Dr. Berry years afterward, "I helped get her in that night, and while I was helping to get her in, I got myself in also!" [6]

And once into the arms of Jesus, what do you get? Turn back to Joshua 20 and note somewhere these six truths for those who flee to the safest spot in the universe. When you get there, to Him, you find the perfect refuge has so much to offer us. Jesus can be for any and all of us today the perfect refuge.

"And they [assigned] Kedesh in Galilee in Mount Naphtali, and Shechem in Mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. And on the other side [of the] Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. These were the cities assigned for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person without intent might flee the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation." (Joshua 20:7-9)

• KEDESH is not only a city name it also means a "holy place" or “righteousness”.
• SHECHEM is not only a city name it also means “shoulder”.
• HEBRON is not only a city name it also means “fellowship”.
• BEZER is not only a city name it also means a "stronghold" or “fortress”
• RAMOTH is not only a city name it also means "exalted" or “heights”
• GOLAN is not only a city name it also means "separated."

Christ is the closest, safest, and only Refuge for the unclean; Christ is the closest, safest, and only Refuge for the weary; Christ is the closest, safest, and only Refuge for the homeless; Christ is the closest, safest, and only Refuge for the helpless; Christ is the closest, safest, and only Refuge for the hopeless; and Christ is the closest, safest, and only Refuge for the tempted.

Have you fled to the safest spot in the universe? If not, do so today. If you have, look around—Christ wants to be your moment by moment perfect refuge!

For more from Discover the Book Ministries, please visit  discoverthebook.org.