by Gloria Copeland
Since the day I was born again, I have realized the end times has always been a subject of in-depth teaching and serious discussion by both Christians and non-Christians. I am one of those who has dug into God’s Word to learn all I can about the subject, and I have had countless discussions with fellow ministers about the last days.
Specifically, the Lord has led me to explore His ways and means of providing for His people and keeping us safe when we experience times like those the Bible describes as end times or the last days. And I have discovered one thing about our Father’s intent for us at times like these - He has a safe place for us!
So, you may be wondering, Gloria, do you believe we are in the end times? Are these the last days? The thing I have noticed is the world seems to be fitting the Bible description more with each passing day.
In Matthew 24:6-7, Jesus told His disciples to watch for the signs that mark the end times, including wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines. We don’t have to look hard to know these things have increased throughout the world in our generation. And they are likely to get much worse before the very last days. But, we can have comfort in knowing we will not be around for that great tribulation. The Bible says Jesus will return right on time to take us out of this world. In the meantime, we know God has everything under control, and He will protect and provide for His children.
He has shown me one thing for sure, and I’ve said it many times: “These may not be the last days, but they are my last days. And I will live out my days-long and strong-in God’s safe place.”
#1 – Believe God’s promises of protection to live in the Safe Place
Yes, I said I know for sure! I am sure I will live out the days of my life and fulfill God’s plan for me in His place of safety and protection. And you can know for sure, too, no matter how tough times get, you can live out your last days in the safety of God’s protection!
Scripture is filled with God’s promise of protection for His children. He will not fail to do His part to fulfill what He promises. And He has made it clear what our part is in living in His safe place. The big question for each of us is: Will we do our part?
Psalm 91 is a scripture we can all take as our foundational promise of God’s sure protection. The whole chapter gives a great picture of the protection God provides His people. Take a minute to read it out loud right now to see just how far-reaching our protection is.
Psalm 91
New King James Version
1 He who dwells 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 I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
Look again at verses 1 and 2. This is basic instruction for staying in our place of protection. This is our responsibility-our part. “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.’”
Throughout our days, our safe place of God’s protection is found in two words-abide and say.
#2 – Abide in God’s Word to live in the Safe Place
Dwelling in the secret place of our Most High God requires our decision to place our whole being-spirit, soul and body-under His protection. He is the secret place and perfect hiding place for His people. Nothing is higher than the Most High. Paul said in Colossians 3:3 that because we are in the Body of Christ, our life “is hid with Christ in God.”
When we decided to take our place with Christ in God’s secret place, we walked through the door to our abiding. Abide means “to remain or stay put.” It also means “to live or lodge in the place.” It’s the place where we reside-where we build our whole life!
I like to say, “Abiding is obeying.” We can receive everything God has for us as we abide in Him, hearing and obeying what He says to us through His written Word and by His Spirit within us.
Spending time in His Word is the first step to our safety in His hiding place. When we sit down to spend time with Him-reading, studying and meditating on His Word-every moment spent with Him builds our faith and establishes us solidly in the place where nothing can by any means harm us.
We position ourselves in this safe place with Him where He can speak to us and teach us directly. As we put ourselves in this place, His will becomes our will and abiding becomes our way of life.
#3 – Say God’s Word of protection to live in the Safe Place
When we add our saying to our abiding, we actually close and lock the door of the hiding place to any successful attack the devil might be planning to launch against us. We say boldly of our God, “He is our refuge, our fortress, our God, and we trust in Him.” This abiding faith of words and action thwarts every work of any enemy.
Our saying in faith declares we are in agreement with God’s Word about Himself and His relationship with us, His children. We are saying, “I have received God as my protector just like I took Him as my Savior. He is my safety. He is my security. He is my provider. I live in His safe place!”
So, we talk about our deliverance. We talk our protection. We don’t talk fear or doubt. Any thought that comes to our minds that is based in fear or doubt, we must cast down and rebuke. Those thoughts have no right to even knock on our door, and we will certainly not get up from our place of safety to open the door.
No matter what circumstances come up-health issues, financial challenges, weather warnings, relationship trials-none of them has the power to take you out of your place in God. You don’t have to go over on the fear side of anything. You trust in God’s ability to bring peace and reconciliation to every situation in your life. That’s His safety plan for His children.
We don’t have to let circumstances and situations overwhelm our lives. We speak to them the truth of God’s Word in the Name of Jesus. The moment I am faced with a bad situation, I have learned to refuse the fear, rebuke the threat and immediately start saying, “I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I say of the Lord, He is my refuge. He is my God. I trust in Him!”
Build your very own list of safety and protection scriptures. God’s Word is filled with them. Have them ready. Just get in there and dig out His Word on protection. There is so much comfort in scriptures like Psalm 27:5: “For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock” (The Amplified Bible).
God’s Word is our arsenal of weaponry against the attacks of the enemy. Jesus set the example for us by speaking only the Word in response to the enemy’s attempts to draw Him out of God’s place of protection (Luke 4). It’s the same with us, no matter the trial or trouble; when we speak only God’s Word we are kept safe! The enemy is forced to get out of our way!
Safe – At All Times!
The world is experiencing some of the greatest days of trouble our generation has ever known. And, yes, I believe the end times are knocking on our door. But God has promised to keep us covered during troubled times.
If you have not developed your faith by getting alone with God and spending time with Him in His Word, there’s no better time to start than today. He is the only sure hiding place any of us will ever have.
Put your relationship with Him first. Abide in Him, and let Him teach you from His Word. Hear Him clearly and obey His direction. Keep your faith ready by daily spending time in God’s Word. And continually speak His promises boldly over yourself and your family. I guarantee you’ll find this to be your true and sure place of safety.
So, are these the end times-the last days? I believe so. How long? I don’t know. You and I may not know the answer to that, but one thing we can know for sure: These are our last days, and we can live them out securely and safely. We have nothing to fear. We can live out His plan for our lives. When we stay in His hiding place, He keeps us covered, and we are safe at all times!
