Sanctuary Cities
Sanctuary Cities
In the past months and even a few years we have heard about people who live in several sanctuary cities, that will be protected from the law enforcement people. As a result, these people that are being protected do not wish to be deported back to their own country to face the crimes that they have done. (We are not getting into the political arena, we don’t do that here.)
So, what brought this to mind, was, when brush-hogging in our fields and woods, there are a number of large rocks. (Seems like I have picked up many of them, yet it seems there are always more to pick up. But I am sure I will never get them all.) Out where I brush-hog I placed several of them in a group of trees so as I can’t hit them. And, so to these rocks they are in a safe place, they are in the sanctuary place of safety.
Days of Moses
In the days of Moses, recorded in Deuteronomy 3, Moses set apart three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun rising; that the slayer might flee there, which should kill his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live. Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manasites. (There were six cities in all, I only named three. You can look them up.)
In the Bible
The Bible teaches that all of us have sinned, and therefore we need a place of safety. Many people believe that they have done so many terrible things that God could never forgive them, and on the other hand, many people believe that they have not done anything that will cause them to be lost. Both of these beliefs are wrong. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul wrote, know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
True Sanctuary
Today we have a place of safety, that is in Jesus Christ. He is our place of safety, our hope, our redeemer, our Savior, our everything. Hence, the place of safety is in His church, as the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:13 “By one Spirit we are baptized into one body.”
Therefore, I hope you will think about these things, and if you need a place of safety (sanctuary), Jesus says “Come and I will give you rest.” Matthew 10:28. If you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and will repent of your sins and be buried with Christ in baptism for the forgiveness of sins, Christ will save you and add you to His church. Acts 2:47.
See Also: Choice | Baptized | Freedom
In Christian Love,
Bill Arnold, Minister
Ridgeway Church of Christ
Harrison, Arkansas
WHY NOT, WE AS CHRISTIANS, INVITE SOMEONE TO WORSHIP WITH US NEXT SUNDAY? AFTER THE MORNING WORSHIP, INVITE THEM TO HAVE A MEAL WITH US. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. WILL YOU DO IT? CAN GOD COUNT ON YOU TO INVITE SOMEONE?
