CHRIST ILLUSTRATED IN THE CITIES OF REFUGE

Heb. 6:18

Morning Meditation 12/4/2012

"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"

The Old Testament is full of types of Christ that are woven through the entire structure of it. They are some of the greatest illustrations that can be found anywhere on the promises, covenants, and the inspired types of Christ. We can learn of Christ much better if we study these lessons. We will not name the cities, nor deal with the cities in particular.

My purpose is to see the New Testament application. First of all let's look at

CHRIST THE SINNERS SHELTER

This city was a protecting refuge. Isaiah 25:4, "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." Several statements in this verse indicate a shelter that God makes for the remnant, a protection to keep them from being completely destroyed.

David was a man who sang of God's power. This is the praise of one who has been blessed of God and had found in God the shelter in time of trouble. Psalms 59:16-17, "But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy." Look at the words David used in this song of praise: "I will sing of thy power . . . " When one goes up against Satan and his awesome power to destroy, there must be power to stay his awful hand. He said, "I will sing." He didn't say, "I'll give you a lecture on God's power." David was running over with the joy of the Lord. He was ready to sing unto the Lord. This is emotional involvement. There are many who say, "Let's don't get emotional in church." Emotionalism is not to be a part of worship. My dear friend, how could you even think that. Jesus came to die for me on the cross and He did what He came to do. Since He has come into my heart, He has blessed me beyond all measure. He has given me something that Satan can't take away. It is life without end. It is a promise based on God's great power and His immutability. Don't tell me not to shout! They do not have gaskets strong enough to keep me together. You would be wiping me off the wall. Would someone please hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!!

Jesus is our refuge from the wrath to come. The Thessalonians were steeped in idol worship. Paul preached the gospel to them and they believed. Paul writes them and reminds them where they were when God found them and the hope they immediately received when they trusted Christ. They are now waiting for the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." Note the words that Paul uses in writing to them. You turned (repentance) to God from idols. You didn't just believe in Christ as Saviour but you began to serve Him immediately. God help these empty professions where people ask the Lord to save them and refuse to serve Him after salvation. Then Paul brings out a truth that should grip the heart of every Christian: "And to wait for his Son from heaven." Where is the Son now? Heaven. What is the Son going to do next? He is going to deliver us from the wrath to come.

Wrath waits God's order. When God gives the word, Satan will then be allowed to exercise His power upon mankind. But the living saints to whom Paul was writing have a promise that when they trusted Jesus that they were not only saved immediately but they can look for His return because it will be before the wrath of God breaks out on the earth and the Christian will be delivered. Jesus is our refuge from the wrath to come.

CHRIST IS A PLEASANT REFUGE

Joel 3:16, "The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." This is a tribulation promise to the nation of Israel. This verse sees the LORD roaring out of Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem.

Jesus had a babies voice in Bethlehem's manger. He came from the perfection of Heaven. He set aside all the glory of that eternal world and this included the perfect body that He wore before His conception and birth in this sinful world. Then He had a toddlers voice as He took His first Steps and said His first words. Then He uttered the words of a child's developing vocabulary. Then at the age of 12 He was found in the Temple in Jerusalem and it is described in Luke 2:46-47, "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."

Jesus is a pleasant refuge for the believer. Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Jesus said come unto me. That is not difficult. What does He say will happen to those who come? He said, "I will give you rest." This is a soul rest. The apostles were persecuted and martyred. Is that rest? Oh yes. Those who killed and made martyrs out of the early church have an account to give. But Jesus said, "I will give you rest." How is this rest? The moment a disciple was martyred he entered the presence of the Lord experiencing a rest that He had never experienced before. Jesus did not go back on His promise. Death only hurt for a moment. Then the martyr, as suddenly as death took place, looks around and he sees the gates of pearl and the streets of gold. He sees Jesus sitting on the right hand of the Father. And Jesus welcomes him home. Wow!!! This is the home of the Christian? Why have I been dreading death?

CHRIST IS A PERMANENT REFUGE

Deuteronomy 33:27 says, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them."

God has always promised permanent refuge for His disciples. The word refuge is used as a den in the rocks both hard to find and almost impossible to reach anyone inside. The words "underneath are the everlasting arms" deals with man's insecurity. Man asks, "but what if I fall." The word of God comes back with the words, "Underneath are the everlasting arms." You will also notice that it says, "Everlasting arms." You do not have to worry about God moving His arms. If you fall it will be in His everlasting arms.

Psalms 37:23-24, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." What if you do fall? What is the promise of the LORD to the one who falls? He shall not be utterly cast down. That is a good promise. What is it to be utterly cast down? It would be to be cast into the abyss. But that will never happen to the believer. It is not that he won't fail. It is that He has the security of the "everlasting arms" and "though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down." Christ is the permanent refuge.

CHRIST IS A PERSONAL REFUGE

Psalms 91:2 says, "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." We often ask, "Is the Lord your personal Saviour?" That is a legitimate question. Salvation is a personal thing. No one is saved by being a member of a church. That would leave Jesus out of it. Get in the church and you are saved. But that is never the promise in the Bible.

John 1:11-12, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" This verse definitely declares that salvation is a personal relationship with Jesus. John says, "He came to His own (the Jews) but His own (the Jews) received Him not. But as many as received him (anyone both Jew and Gentile), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." This is a personal relationship. Do you have a personal relationship with Him? There is no salvation that is not a personal relationship with Jesus. Repentance toward God and faith in Jesus is what forms this union between the believer and Christ.

F. E. Marsh said, "It is not enough to know that Christ is the Saviour we need, the essential thing is to make personal application to Him, and each to receive Him for oneself.

Dr. Doddridge on his dying bed said, "I have no hope in what I have been or done, yet I am full of confidence, and this is my confidence, there is a hope set before me. I have fled, I still fly for refuge to that Hope. In Him I trust, in Him I have strong consolation, and shall assuredly be accepted in this Beloved of my soul."

Christ is a personal refuge. He said in John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." No one can read this with a fair mind and not say that Jesus is speaking about the security of the believer. Jesus is the one who holds us. He said, "No one is able to pluck them out of my hand."

Colossians 3:1-4 says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Christ is definitely our personal refuge and also our hiding place. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White