“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor the arrow that flieth by day.” (Psalm 91:4-5)

A few weeks back we observed the twelfth year following the 11 September 2001 terrible attack on America by Muslim terrorists.  Even more recently, although it does not appear terror motivated, the United States Navy was attacked at the Washington Navy Yard, leaving 12 families with deceased family members (5 of the 12 I knew as I work at the WNY at the very building, building 197, where the shooting occurred).  Despite attempts to make the country more secure, the threat remains scarcely abated.  The issue is not making us more secure, the issue is sin and failure to follow Jesus’ command to love one another as we love ourselves.

What should the Christian response be when a 9/11 or a Benghazi or more recently, what happened at the WNY occurs?  From Psalm 91, and other verses in God’s word, we see we have no cause for fear! For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (paraphrased from 2 Timothy 1:7)  Yes, the physical danger is real, but our Lord promises protection in tender words likened to a mother bird’s care for her young.  Our ultimate deliverance is guaranteed by His sure promises.  We are to trust in His power, and truth sustains us as surely as would a shield and buckler.  God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (paraphrased from 2 Corinthians 12:9) Further, we are to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Our hope cannot ultimately rest in military might.  As the song goes “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.  On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”  God does not promise temporal safety to all, for there have been millions who have succumbed to undeserved violence.  Our last hope is of a different order, firmly grounded in “the Lord, which is my refuge.” (Psalm 91:9) He responds to our trust and worship with the promise “with long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16)  Much more interested in our response to troubles than in our deliverance, (response addresses attitude!) He desires us to believe and serve Him, all the while trusting Him, even in perilous times.  Times as 9/11, Benghazi, school shootings, and the WNY experience.  All are opportunities to show our love for one another by praying and by physically offering to help those impacted.

A New Testament application of this principle can be found in 1 Peter 3:14:  “If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” So what is the remedy?  Peter provides it in his next verse:  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15)

The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself our example and inspiration.  “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:3)  Fixing our eyes upon Him, we have no cause for fear.

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1964.  Lynn Petersen graduated in 1986 from the United States Naval Academy and commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.  I Married the dream and love of my life, Alena, in 1987.  Became the daddy of two great children in 1988 and in 1990.  In April of 1990, my wife's uncle, a "Completed Jew" shared the Gospel of Christ with me, and I trusted in the blood atoning work of Jesus, and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and save me.  In July 1991, Alena and I were baptized.  Fast forward to 2012, having served as a church deacon, Sunday School teacher, and congregational song leader, we started ALL four HIM, a Southern Gospel Quartet.   Lynn sings bass for the quartet and also plays the clarinet.  It is a joy to sing unto the Lord to glorify HIM, and to encourage others with the Gospel of Christ.

My desire is to reach as many men, women, boys, and girls with the Gospel of Christ in message and in music so that they, like I have, can experience the rich joy and peace that passes all worldly understanding; that joy that is only provided by faith in Christ.  

My life verse is Philippians 4:13.  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Prov 3:5,6,   2 Chronicles 7:14,    Psalms 41, Ephesians 2:8,9 and John 14:6, among others, are all verses that strengthen and encourage me.