Last summer, even though I had lived in Valrico the past 24 years, I set out to drive throughout the community. After all, it is the mission field to which God sent me. I discovered along the way that we seem to have more than our fair share of streets contained in gated communities with high walls and limited access, many with 24 hour guards.

A guarded, gated community located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many move to such a community because it is prestigious or exclusive but mostly the communities have those characteristics associated with them because of the sense of security the gates and walls provide. And, next to meeting physical needs for food, water, etc., security is one of our most basic needs.

We all want certainty and security in our lives. It’s uncomfortable to be afraid so we look for that which provides security. But regardless of the community in which we live, our sense of security can never be complete because life is uncertain, a lesson we have come to know all too well during two recent wars, unnumbered disasters and an economic downturn. Soldiers die in war, people die in tornados, people lose jobs or homes. These events affect those in gated communities just as often as the ungated ones. Lives turned upside down by unexpected events help us see that the security we seek is at best an illusion. Yet there is no reason to be afraid. Jesus himself says:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

We can live boldly and without fear because God knows who we are. Our security is found in our relationship with his son Jesus, through whom we can know God, and the Holy Spirit lives with us here and now. And the opportunity to know Jesus is available to everyone. We don’t need walls or gates or money, for that matter, to make us secure because God has provided the way for an infinitely better security than those things can provide. Nothing that happens in this world can take that away from us.

Do you know the security that comes from knowing Jesus? If so, how has it affected your life? If not, would you like to know more?