Joel of Jerusalem Apr/May 1969
SECURITY IN AN INSECURE WORLD
I was recently in the service and discussed with some of the men security in this insecure world. I told them that my real security is not Social Security nor any other insurance, which I do not have, but eternal security. I have no contract nor insurance policy and yet have perfect peace.
They listened to me, and as I talked to them they became more and more serious. They stopped laughing and asked me what they should do. I said, “Nothing, just go to your room and give your heart to the Lord Jesus and say, ‘Lord, I commit myself completely to you; I believe on you that you have died for me and secured for me salvation.’ Sign this with your heart, not with your hand, and believe. Do it today, do not wait for tomorrow, because you do not know what may happen by then. We are all traveling in the same train. Save your soul, because your body is just like a suit of clothing that may be torn and discarded at any time, but when you save your soul you are sure of eternal life. The Lord did not want us to perish, so He sent us His salvation. He sent to us His Prophets and finally the Messiah, who died for us and rose again from the dead. Being a believer, it is my duty to tell everybody about this.” I quoted Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
They listened very attentively, and looked at each other. Every one of them had a different expression, but all were most serious, and seemed to be afraid of each other. I told them not to make such long faces, “You should be happy that the Lord is offering you eternal life, salvation and security.”
“I am always happy, although I am exposed to death every moment, but I know where I am going and in whom I have believed—in Him is my peace and my life. I sing and praise the Lord, and I know He will never let me down like some firms which go bankrupt and leave you holding the bag. He will never forsake you nor leave you.”
One of them asked, “How do you know that if you believe in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach you will have eternal life?”
“Because the Word of God says so. It is through His blood that we have forgiveness of sin, and that is in our own Old Testament. I cannot give you eternal life, I am only a human being just like you, but I can give you information about it, and if you believe, nobody can take you out of His hands. I received this salvation, and I want you too to have it.”
One of them suggested, “Let us go to the Soldier’s Center and have a Coca Cola.”
For three days we chummed around and were very close together. All they wanted to speak about was Christ, as if nothing else in the world existed. Politics, which is the usual subject of conversation, were forgotten and all we talked about was Jesus. It was a strange reversal of the usual situation—this time my friends were urging me all the time to tell them more. I was happy and delighted to give my testimony.
The orthodox fanatics keep on warning the people with posters in the streets against the missionaries, but it does not help them a bit, it only helps to advertise the missionaries, and people are becoming more and more interested.
As for my wife, she is well and so are the children—always happy and healthy. Up to now, praise the Lord, I have never had any trouble or complaints about the children. This is a special blessing from the Lord. If I were to provide them with two loaves of bread every day they would be perfectly satisfied and happy. They learn well at school and are very gifted.
