Finding Shelter in God in Perilous Times*

                                                                                                 Refuge

 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,

    and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the

    mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,

    the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall

   help her and that right early.

 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice,

   the earth melted.

 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made of the earth.

 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow,

   and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,

   I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."  Psalm 46

     The Psalm above describes God's shelter and refuge in great catastrophes: earthquakes, storms, wars, desolation and the melting of the earth. These very things are also associated with the signs and judgment of the end times, before and at the return of Jesus Christ. We read in scripture that the first world-wide judgment of the earth was by the flood of water when Noah was commanded by God to build a saving refuge - the ark, but the next world-wide judgment from God will be intense and melting fire, as we will see. However, for those who trust in Him, God will be a shelter and refuge in the midst of these things.

     The LORD gave a word of prophetic warning to the prophet Nahum of His wrath against His enemies: "...The mountains quake at him (the LORD), and the hills melt, and the earth is burnt at his presence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." (Nahum 1:1-7, excerpt).

     These words of judgment and destruction were spoken against Nineveh, which had previously experienced the mercy of the LORD when they had repented for their sins. However, they later turned back from their repentance and returned to their great wickedness.

 

    Another prophet, Malachi, also asked the question that we see above: "Who shall stand when he appeareth?"

    As we see above, there is a refuge and shelter provided for those who trust in the LORD. However, the wicked will be seeking a futile kind of shelter when the wrath of God begins to fall upon the earth. They will run to the hills and cry out for the rocks to fall on them, saying, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:13-17).

     As Jesus warned of the physical destruction and the spiritual traps that will deceive man and try to keep people, including possibly the elect of God, from finding that place of refuge with God, He said: "...Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh...when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand...Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

     The cares and practices of this world will not provide refuge, and the wages of all sin is still death. However, the free gift of God to us is that place of refuge in Him and in His Son, Jesus. It is also the gift of eternal life.

     The apostle Peter wrote about the events of the last days. He wrote that there are those scoffers who will, even though they know better, deny the coming judgment of God. The judgment is sure, however: "...the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men....But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up." (2 Pet. 3:1-10, excerpt). The Lord, however, allows the opportunity for as long as possible for people to repent and turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). Peter pointed out that there is a timetable in the Lord, and that timetable is coming to the point of decision, and we are not to be ignorant of it. (v. 8).

     Taking these things into consideration, Peter asked what manner of persons we ought to be. He wrote: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved...we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (v. 11-13).

     Many centuries before Peter wrote these things above about the God's willingness to allow time for man's repentance, the LORD filled the newly dedicated temple, His house, with His glory, and gave this promise to King Solomon at that time: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent to the prayer that is made in this place." (2 Chron. 7:1-16, excerpt). This promise still stands. The LORD's eyes and ears are open to humbleness of spirit and to prayer and repentance that seeks His face for mercy and healing. His refuge and shelter are available to those who seek it and trust in it.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 10/25/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.