Safety First!

Growing up I was always told to wear a helmet, use the sidewalks, and look both ways before crossing the street. Safety was my parents top concern… as it probably should have been. Recently, I’ve been getting this “Safety First!” question by almost every one of my ministry partners. Safety is a good question… it allows people to know how to pray, what situation I’m going into, etc.
 
I want to address this question because first, it's one that I tend to slough off as unimportant. Being relatively young and naive I can be a little reckless at times. But, DONT WORRY! Far wiser people then me are leading… and the ministry I’ll be doing is safe. There IS NOT any big threat.
 

But can we pretend, for a moment that Cambodia is NOT safe.
 
What if I was going somewhere that the likelihood of my death was almost certain. If I was to follow Elizabeth Elliot, who went to people who killed her own husband and beloved friends, would you not encourage me? Or if I was going to Afganistan, Pakistan, or India… all places hostile to the Gospel? What if like Hudson Taylor I was called to a place no English man had stepped foot in?
 
Could you honestly tell me to stay?

Would you place "Safety" above the souls of countless people?
 
What really IS safety anyways? I think we have a very false, very wrong idea of what it means to be protected from danger. Security systems, locks, and helmets do not equal freedom from burglaries or head injuries. In Ephesians the Lord tells us the power and authority that gives us complete safety:
 
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

GO BACK & READ IT. [Yes, those of you who “already know it” – don't skip it]

Total protection is placing the armor of God on EACH DAY.
 
“Safety First!” may be a good kindergarten concept – but active practice in the adult age leads to immaturity and disobedience. God does not call us to safety – but to uncomfortable, illogical, lives that are beautifully and fully devoted to seeking first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness.