The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. —Proverbs 18:10
The tallest tower in the world is in Dubai; a tower of luxury and human accomplishment. At the foot of the tower people bustle in and out of a huge mall where they satisfy themselves with good food and designer clothing. When they get tired of shopping, there’s a beautiful fountain to enjoy and cinemas to entertain. They fight over parking, jostle each other in stores, and position themselves in restaurants, all in an attempt to find satisfaction in life. People walk into this tower not realizing they are in grave danger.
For centuries men have built towers: towers of war, towers of achievement, towers of knowledge and ego. But in the end, they will all come crashing down. Like the Burj Khalifa, they are built on the sand of hubris and self-regard. Their builders ignore God—the One who created the world and everything in it, the One deserving of recognition and worship. Humans have forsaken their Creator and instead built monuments for their own glory. But a day is coming when God will set all things right, a day of judgment and wrath when only one tower will stand.
The righteous man runs into this lone tower. He runs from the wrath of God to the only safe place: a tower of mercy, steadfast love and faithfulness, a tower of forgiveness and perfect justice (Exodus 34:6-7). The righteous man knows that his sin leaves him no other hope. The name of the Lord is that strong tower of safety. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus. He’s the tower that was torn down by the wrath of God but raised in three days never to be breached again. It is in this tower where God’s justice and mercy meet. The sinner runs into this tower and finds shelter—forgiveness for all of his sin.
Where will you go to find safety? Are you piling up bricks of good works and achievement? Will you build your own tower of reputation and prestige? Are you hiding in the rubble of lust, gluttony, or bitterness? A day is coming when no human tower will stand. Our self-glorifying efforts, our status, our selfish desires will leave us no shelter from the coming storm but only add to its fury. Run, don’t walk, into the one tower that will never collapse. Take refuge in this mighty shelter when the towers of temptation loom up in your heart. Don’t trust your own wisdom, wealth, or name. Run into Jesus. He will keep you safe.
For Reflection
What towers have you built in your life that will not last? Are you continuing to pile up bricks or hide in the rubble of your manmade towers?
What desires or hopes motivate your tower building? What needs or fears do they cover?
Look to Jesus to satisfy all your desires and hopes. Let His Word fill you and calm your fears. Run to Him and find refuge in Him by praying and meditating on God’s character in Exodus 34:5-7; Psalm 18:1-3; and Colossians 1:13-20.
Keri Folmar is a pastor’s wife in the United Arab Emirates where she leads women’s Bible studies in the Evangelical Christian Church of Dubai. She has written The Good Portion: Scripture, the Delighting in the Word Bible Study Series and How Can Women Thrive in the Local Church?