Running to Safety

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. - Proverbs 18:10

My Pastor, Dr. Caroll Marr, tells this story about Chub.

Chub has a new home! And a new and very important job! He took over as watchdog at the parsonage when the big German Police dog that used to live in the backyard went to dog heaven. Wow! You talk about macho! Now that should be an easy task for a he-man dog named Chub, replacing that one-hundred pound fierce animal whose low growl was sufficient to frighten everyone and everything away—without even going to the gate! There is, however, a "small" problem. Chub is a Rat Terrier. A mini-miniscule "police dog" lacking in every area that the former security guard exhibited. In fact, Chub lives in the house, so his job description doesn't even require him to go outside and "Fight, Chub, Fight!" wasn't written in his contract.

He's getting along fine until his master, teen-aged John, brings a friend home to spend the night. No one had bothered to inform Chub of this change in his list of accepted houseguests. Chub hears John come in, wags all over in true terrier fashion and runs eagerly to meet him—WHOA! He skids to a stop!

"Hey! Who's that? I don't know him! He shouldn't be in here! An intruder! I've got to protect John! We are all at great risk! Oh, my! What do I do now?"

So, with great bravado Chub says, "Woof!" Then he retreats and heads for the tall timber—running scared. This said timber being under the bed as far back as he could crawl. Whew! Close call! But he was safe now! The "big man" (Pastor) sleeps in this bed and he can handle this terrifying situation! "Sic 'em, Preacher!"

That's okay. Chub is a puppy and he's just learning. But, you know, I spend a lot of time running—and it isn't that I'm preparing for a marathon. I'm running scared! And I don't even utter a single "woof!" But do you know where I head? Yep! For the tall timber! Under the bed.

God knew we'd be running scared a lot of the time and He prepared a safe retreat for us. He says, "Run in here with Me whenever you need to. I'm the 'Big Man.' Hide under My bed. I'm accessible all the time." He's giving me my instructions for when I'm running scared.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

"Anabel, there is a safe place. It is Me, Jesus. I am your strong tower and Anabel, I hear your slightest whisper. I'm that close."

I run there in my mind. I crawl under His wings and hide my eyes. A word picture, but God gives us so many promises in "word pictures." And some times only as we imagine those precious promises do they become ours.

Hannah Whitall Smith wrote these words:

The dove has neither claw nor sting,
Nor weapon for the fight,
She owes her safety to the wing,
Her victory to flight.
The Bridegroom opens His arms of love,
And in them folds the panting dove.

I understand Chub. So, panting and sometimes basically terrified, I run! I run cowering into my Strong Tower as far as I possibly can—against the back wall! And I am safe. The "Big Man"—my precious Jesus—can handle this terrifying situation.