A Place to Hide
We Need A Hiding Place
Have you ever felt like you wanted to get away from everything and hide from everybody? Consider the wonderful words of Isaiah 32:2. A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Everyone needs a hiding place.
An Accusing Conscience
“A hiding place from what?” you ask. We need a hiding place from four things. First, we need a hiding place from an accusing conscience. We are born into this world with a conscience, but each of us has sinned against his own conscience. There is no earthly torment like the torment of an accusing conscience. It may be that your conscience doesn’t bother you. If this is the case, you need to realize that there is a sense in which the conscience sleeps; but though it sleeps, it never dies. The day will come when the sleeping conscience will awaken, and will point its finger of accusation at you. It is then that you will need a hiding place.
The Power of Sin
Secondly, we need a hiding place because of the power of sin. Be honest with yourself. You know that there are powers of evil resident within you that are more than you can master in your own strength. If you think you can overcome all sin in your own strength, you are sadly mistaken. You may be over-mastered by an appetite for drink. Or, though you have no interest in drink, you are enslaved by other sins. It could be unclean thoughts. Maybe it is neither alcohol, nor unclean thoughts; but you have other problems. It could be an uncontrollable temper, or a sharp caustic tongue. Regardless of what it is, the power of sin is more than any of us can master by ourselves. It is for this reason that we need a hiding place.
The Power of Satan
Thirdly, we need a hiding place from the power of the devil. Now there are many people who think they are too wise to believe in the existence of a personal devil. There are no doubts in my mind relative to his existence. The Bible tells about him, and I believe the Bible. God says, your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). In Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul wrote, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. There are many other verses in the Bible that tell us about the devil. I also believe in a personal devil because of my own experience with him. Satan has buffeted me, and sought to ruin me time and time again. As I read the daily newspapers and watch the telecasts, I am a witness to the devil’s labors; lives are being destroyed, homes are being wrecked, and nations persist in war. The devil is the instigator of all this trouble and hardship. Be assured, there is a devil—subtle and wicked—and we are no match for his cunning power. We need a hiding place from him.
The Wrath to Come
And, finally, we need a hiding place from the wrath to come. Like those who disbelieve in a personal devil, there are some who laugh at the idea of a wrath to come. The Bible says that God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness. The Word of God declares this, and the Word gives us the facts. But not only does the Word tell us this, life itself testifies to this fact. Here is a man who has deceived and cheated his neighbor. He has robbed him of virtually thousands of dollars. He is taken to court, and surprisingly enough he is declared “Not guilty.” How clever was his lawyer who won the case. But do you think the case is closed? Oh, no. Reason tells us that the day is coming when the accounts will be settled. In the eyes of God, the case was simply postponed. Let us not think that thousands of men and women who have deceived, cheated, and murdered will not have to stand before a righteous God and receive what they have never received in this world: a just reward for their iniquity. Of course there is a judgment and there is a hell. Because of this, man needs a hiding place.
Christ Is The Hiding Place
Look at the passage from Isaiah again: A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. What do we see here? A man shall be as an hiding place. Who is this man? It is the God-man, Jesus Christ. Christ is the hiding place from conscience. Are you haunted with the memory of the past? Christ is the hiding place. There is peace in Him. Christ is the hiding place from sin within. He has made forgiveness and victory available, if you will turn to Him and claim Him as your hiding place from sin. Christ is the hiding place from the devil. Recall how the Son of God was tempted in the wilderness. Three times the devil sought to ruin Him, but the devil suffered a severe defeat. Christ can overcome the devil. Christ is also the hiding place for the wrath to come. Not only does He possess the power to save us from our sins, but the power to save us from the consequences of sin hereafter. Any religion that is incapable of saving one from present day sin will never save a person from the wrath of God. There is an abundance of religion in the world, but most of it is absolutely worthless because it is ineffective to deal with man’s sinful nature. People may be religious, but religion does not bring assurance that sins have been forgiven, nor does it prepare a person to meet God.
Trust in The Way
Jesus said, in John 14:6, I am the way. What did He mean? He meant that He is the way to eternal life. There are those who teach that they have another way. The Bible says that there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. Don’t trust in “a” way or “any” way. Trust in “the” way. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man, cometh unto the Father, but by me. Take God at His word. Don’t trust in your own intelligence. Don’t trust in what religion tells you. People have written to me and told me that there are other ways to be saved. The Bible says there is one way, Neither is there salvation in any other. I believe that because the Bible proves itself to be true. This is the Word of God, and so we take God at His word. Jesus Christ is the hiding place from conscience, the power of sins, Satan, and the wrath to come. You need Him as your hiding place. Turn to Him now and find in Him security and peace that only He can give.
J. Allen Blair
Jesus said, My peace I give unto you (John 14: 27).
Can’t Move out of My Seat!
“Dear Dr. Blair,
I want you to know that I am blessed to have a teacher such as you, Dr. Blair, that adheres to the Word of God. I know it is not you, but Christ in you, the hope of glory. I can’t move out of my seat until you finish teaching at 5:30 a.m. here in Windsor, Connecticut.
I’ve never heard anyone that could say so much in ten minutes. My spirit agrees with your teaching without objection. Tell the truth! Shame the Devil! The Devil can’t win for the shape he’s in. We can’t loose for the stuff we use; praying, living, and telling the truth. Keep on!
Enclosed is my offering and extra for the book, Mother’s Memories (I know it was free during letter month, but everything has a price).” T.C.W., Windsor, CT
Prohibited from Church
“My husband and I moved to Florida in 1989. He was not a Christian and did not permit me to go to church, so my spiritual food and enrichment had to be from a different source. I am not sure when I found the BBN, but I was always searching the radio dial, even for a song!
One of my favorite early morning programs was replaced by Glad Tidings. At first, I was disappointed, but quickly learned to love Dr. Blair’s straight forward presentation of the Gospel.
In 1992 my husband was diagnosed with leukemia. His days and nights became reversed, which allowed me to listen to Glad Tidings each morning without interruption. My hurting soul was nourished during the next five years. Dr. Blair’s teaching deepened my yearning for the lost to be reached as I witnessed the result of an unyielding spirit. My husband died in Satan’s deceit, as far I as know.
I still have the habit of listening each morning to Glad Tidings at 6:30 a..m. Brother Blair always calls sinners to repentance. At that time, I pray for those struggling with whatever deceit the enemy is using. I love partnering with that goal!” S.T., Williston FL