Safety Second

Introduction: Only truly safe computer is one that is locked up and powered down. The problem is that also renders it unable to fulfil it’s purpose. If we’re not careful, we’ll do this with people.

We highly value safety - especially the safety of those we care most about. For the wise, and especially the eternally secure Christian, safety is not ultimate. It’s secondary at best. We must take care not to hinder others from their own God glorifying paths by always putting safety first.

In out text this morning we see a situation where Paul and his companions are confronted over and over again with the reality of the persecution that awaits him in Jerusalem. Rather than give in to the well-meaning and caring exhortation of others, he stays determined to complete his course and return to Jerusalem.

Read Acts 21:1-14

Pray

Safety and purpose

What is the chief end of man? (To glorify God and enjoy him forever.)

God is often glorified most when His mercy and love is set against the backdrop of tragedy and hardship.

Examples: The Exodus (slavery in Egypt, travels through the wilderness, the conquest of Caanan), Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or the ultimate display of God’s glory in Jesus Christ:

- He was announced in glory by the hosts of heaven to lowly shepherds in the fields.

- He came from the glory of heaven, to be born of a poor virgin in a stable and lay in a feed trough.

- He was King and Savior of His people, yet was utterly rejected by them (John 1:11)

- He was the Righteous One, and yet was nailed to a cross and executed as a criminal of the worst sort (for you!)

- He was raised up from the dead, after being dead and buried for three days

Christianity is not safe. The greatest display of God’s grace and mercy was born out of suffering and sacrifice. God’s glory comes at a cost. Paul understood this, and was willing to die for the glory of God in Christ.

Read Acts 20:22-24

Read Acts 21:13

Acts 21:13 NASB95

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul valued things differently than most. First, He didn’t assume his personal safety was something He could count on. Second, He understood that some things were worth sacrificing for. Finally, he trusted God.

Don’t count on safety

We live in a culture obsessed with safety and security.

We wear seat-belts (or should). Our children have bike helmets, we have antibiotic ointment to treat wounds, we clean our teeth all to prevent harm. Advertisers spend billions of dollars ever year playing to our sense of security and well-being. Some religious leaders even package their message to appeal to this (health, wealth and security).

Many of our customary greetings indicate a supreme value on wellness: “Be well”, “stay safe”, “take care”, etc.

BWT - These are good things. When you care for someone, you want to keep them safe. However, our cultural fixation on safety has had some negative affects.

One such negative is that we count on safety.

We start to assume that if we buy the right products, take the right precautions and manage our lives correctly that bad things will not happen. We don’t say it like that, but we trust in, or count on safety.

Don’t believe me? Look at the past 2 years in this pandemic. Our sense of safety and security has been attacked and people have responded by losing their minds, desperate to believe anyone who seems to have an answer and demonizing anyone who doesn’t agree with their version of the answer to restore us to supposed safety.

The reality is that, as good and wise it is to take precautions - safety is in no way a guarantee. We are not in heaven yet. Sin’s curse is still at work. People die every day. People get sick, people they have accidents at work or in the car. You and I will die.

Our lives will end. We don’t necessarily know how or when but the question is - are you ready? Not just spiritually but yes, spiritually are you ready to meet God? Are you covered, by faith, in the righteousness of Christ? Are we living our lives in view of this? Or are we living under the assumption of safety?

No one wants suffering. Nobody wants those they love to suffer. But I’m convinced that one reason we struggle so much with it is that we are not mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared for it. We forget what Jesus said in John 16:33, or we don’t want to believe it.

John 16:33 NASB95

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Friends, we should do what we can to protect others and ourselves from harm. Of course that is good. However we cannot count on safety. Safety isn’t God. God is God. Paul knew not to put too much stock in the security of this world, and knew that his life would one day end. He lived in light of that fact. He also knew where his own safety fell in his list of priorities.

Safety second?

I said that our cultural fixation had some negative affects. Not only to we trust it too much, but we also place far too high a value on it.

In our text, we see various warnings against Paul going to Jerusalem that, at first glance, seem to indicate the Spirit warning Him not to go. That isn’t the case.

The Holy Spirit filled believers in v.4 had insight into what would happen to Paul if/when he went and, caring for him, they urged him not to go. They had the Holy Spirit in them, but so did Paul. Their urging in the Spirit was not the same as the Spirit of God telling Paul not to go.

Spirit-filled people can disagree. They do all the time, and it doesn’t mean they are disobeying the Spirit and sinning. Spiritual insight is not the same as God’s command and not every Spirit-filled believer is inspired to speak the authoritative Word of God.

The Prophet Agabus dramatically showed what was to happen in Jerusalem, but he did not tell Paul not to go.

“In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles” v.11

These well-meaning believers, including Luke himself (v.12) put Paul’s safety first. This wasn’t wrong, it was loving. However Paul had his focus on something greater.

Some things are greater than safety. As a matter of fact, pursuit of safety can often hinder us from reaching the full potential of growth to the glory of God.

Trees need wind. Without it, their roots do grow as strong or as deep. They need the resistance and force, the discomfort and struggle to become what they are meant to be.

Safe and Secure in Christ

Protect? Yes, but not only that...

God can bring beauty from ashes, glory from tragedy, good from bad.

So we: Pray, we give spirit-filled counsel, and we trust God as Father.

Conclusion: