Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 13
March 1, 1962
NUMBER 42, PAGE 1,12a

Shelters For Survival

Steve Hudgins, Ocala, Florida

In this nuclear age we hear and read of various size megaton bombs, of alpha and beta particles and gamma rays, of fallout radiation and roentgens as the civil defense department tries to impress upon us the need of providing means for personal survival in the possible event of nuclear war. Man should be concerned with personal survival, but how much more with soul survival. Where there is a possible need of a shelter for personal survival there is a definite and certain need for a shelter for soul survival. As much as we may love this life and desire to hold on to it just as long as possible we must realize, as the Bible teaches, life is but a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. (Jas. 4:14) When we seriously consider this we understand Jesus when He said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Mt. 10:28) How much more then ought we to be concerned in providing shelter for the soul! Take heed therefore to this great announcement, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall lie dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (2 Pet. 3:9-14) As terrible as it would be to be unprepared for personal survival in the event of possible need, it will be the worst possible calamity to be unprepared for the coming of the Lord. God has provided man with shelter for his soul. 'Hear my cry, 0 God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah." (Ps. 61: 1-4) Will you flee to Jesus, our Shelter, our Hope of soul survival?

For personal survival man needs readiness, a fallout shelter with a source of fresh air, a safe water and food supply, some means of light, a transistor radio to receive instructions as to what and how to do, to heed these instructions and not to leave the shelter until told it is safe to do so.

For soul survival man needs most of these same things. Christ provides man's needs. He points out our need of Him, "....for without Me ye can do nothing." (Jno. 15:5) ....I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me:' (Jno. 14:6) He encourages our readiness for His coming, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 24:44) "Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thess. 5:6)

Christ is the Shelter for soul survival and provides protection for His sheep who hear His voice and follow Him — such are safe in His hand. (Jno. 10:27-29) God through Christ has made provision for "..an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Pet. 1:3-5)

As air is essential in a fallout shelter, faith is essential to keep one in Christ. (1 Pet. 1:5) Christians are told, "Keep yourselves in the love of God...." (Jude 21) Jesus provides the safe sufficient water supply, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (Jno. 4:14) Jesus as the bread of life is the only safe food supply. "For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." (Jno. 6:33-35) Great care is needed to insure against the consumption of contaminated spiritual food. Heed Peter's warning. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason if whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Pet. 2:1-3) Any religious teaching that is not authorized by the Bible is false doctrine, contaminated food, and can not save regardless of how sincerely believed.

Jesus also provides the needed light that will never fail. He came a light into the world that men might come out of darkness. (Jno. 12:46; 1 Jno. 1:7) God's word furnishes us light by which we are to walk. (Ps. 119:105)

As a means of receiving instructions the Bible is the one complete and safe guide. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) We need to search this book of God (Jno. 5:39), and to heed these instructions doing exactly what the Lord commands. "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:22, 23) It is dangerous not to obey the Lord. Won't you heed Peter's exhortation, "....Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2:40) You can do this by doing the Father's will (Mt. 7:21), by rendering strict obedience unto the Lord for He is the Author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him. (Heb. 5:8, 9)

It is very important to remain in the Shelter for only in Him is there protection. Note the warning, "For it after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Pet. 2:20-22) Therefore those who leave the Shelter expose themselves to the same destructive "f allou t" as those who fail to enter the Shelter. (2 Thess. 1:7-9)

Your immediate concern should be, "How can I have this protection? How can I get into this wonderful Shelter providing safety even in the day when the heavens and the earth shall be destroyed?" Getting into Christ is the result of hearing, learning and obeying. Jesus said, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me." (Jno. 6:45) Man needs therefore to hear the truth of God, learn and come in obedience to the Saviour. Paul reminded the Romans how they got into Christ, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into His death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." (Rom. 6:1-5)

Won't you flee to the Shelter while there is time?

Believe, repent, confess and be baptized for remission of sin, (Jno. 1:12; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37; Gal. 3:27)