“Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3 NIV.

A hurting world is hurtful by nature and practice.

My thoughts and comments today are about “safe environs.”

Because of sin, the world is not a safe place. Every day the news reports that reality. That was not the case in the beginning. When God surveyed the world of His creation, His benediction was, “It is good.” But His world did not long remain that way. Nothing and nowhere is good is God is not found there. Sin entered into a perfect Eden bringing pain and suffering, betrayal and distrust. See Genesis 3. And the world we know was changed for the worse.

A hurting world is hurtful by nature and practice. Sin brings hurt, and hurting people hurt others. Nations as well as neighborhoods fill with danger and violence. The result? Our cities are not always safe; our highways are not always safe; our communities are not always safe; even some homes and families are not always the safe place they should be. Solomon wrote much about the place of safety, “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge . . The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe . . Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 14:26 NKJV/18:10 NIV/29:25 NIV. Safe is what God wants for you. In Him alone, safety can be found.

I awakened this morning with two words in my spirit: “safe environs.” I recalled the Apostle Paul’s words, “Set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God . . set your mind on things above . . [for] your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 NIV. Read those last words again; meditate on them, allowing their powerful truth to penetrate your faith. Do not stray from His safe environs for even a moment.

What you are to do – establishing your affections, emotions, and thoughts on Christ – is the after effect of, “your life [being] hidden with Christ in God,” not a prior cause. That distinction of order is more important than you may first presume. What you are now asked to do will flow out of your conviction of what God in Christ has already done. “The righteous . . shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:6-7 NKJV. Your heart must not waver or wander.

When life would overwhelm or darkness envelop and danger surround, remember who you are and where you abide; you are His and “hidden with Christ in God.” There is no safer place. Just as Christ resides safe and sure in His Father’s love, you can abide in the safe environs of a Savior’s loving care. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life and . . no one can snatch them away from Me . . no one can snatch them away from My Father’s care.” John 10:28-29 TEV. That is security which is enduring.

I love David’s words, “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’ . . because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.” See Psalm 91:1-11 NKJV. Read Psalm 90:1 NIV. Make the Lord your refuge and dwelling place.

My prayer for you today is that your heart and soul reside always in safe environs.