I was driving in Tyler, Texas when I looked up and was stunned to see a Jeep with the Jurassic Park graphics on the door.  It was right out of the movie.  I said to myself “Oh Lord, Oh Lord – I must have taken me a wrong turn.”  

Turns out the manufacturer celebrated the 30th anniversary of the film by detailing the Jeep featured in the movie with the original Jurassic artwork.  

What a relief!  Traffic is bad enough without being rear-ended by a T-Rex or escaping a swooping Velociraptor.

But, in some ways, life for me kinda feels like I have accidentally wandered into the Park.  My world is filled with other kinds of ferocious beasts, that are salivating over me. 

They send me emails phishing for a chance to infect my world and give them power over me and my finances.  They use texts with iffy links that could wipe me clean if I click. 

I’m told to never mention the word, “yes” to an unsolicited caller, because it could be recorded and then edited so that my “yes” will be used to approve things of which I don’t approve.  I’ve got to be wary of fraudulent Facebook friend requests – designed to worm their way into my life. 

I can’t say the word “arthritis” without a dozen pop-up ads for cures flooding my phone.  And I must fiercely guard my phone number from phony marketplace callers who are simply trying to harvest it to sell.

When I was in junior high, I barely had an identity, but now I got to protect what little I have with insurance.

I am not a doom and gloom guy, but this is the way it is!  A foreboding forest of vicious people who are trying to claw their way into our lives and devour what we have. 

But what a blessing!  Yes, a blessing!   If I could adequately manage these risks, I would.  But I can’t.  These things are so beyond my control that I must entrust my welfare to the only one that can protect me.

Psalm 18 was penned by David.  It reminds us, of where our confidence needs to rest. 

He begins with, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.”  (18:1).  What a sweet affirmation of David’s devotion to the Lord.  What Father would fail to delight in such words and why would He refuse the request of the child that spoke them? 

In verses 2 and 3 he wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Look at the many different words that David used to describe the safety and reliability of God. 

He called Him a rock.  When I am floundering about in rushing water, a rock in the middle of the river is a secure place on which to stand.   He used the word “fortress.”   A fortress has impenetrable walls to repel the arrows of an enemy above, before and behind.

God was his deliverer.  He got it done.  He was His refuge – a hidden but safe place away from heat of the battle.  He was his shield.  Spears were flying, but he was snugly tucked in behind it. 

The guilty one of Israel would run from an adversary to the temple and grab onto the horns of the altar to find asylum and mercy.   David found as much with the Lord.   

He followed up with verse 13, “I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.“   He cried for help and received it and was saved from his predators. 

It’s true.  We live in a Jurassic jungle, but we serve a God who controls the script.  Trust Him with your life and all the digital details of it and be saved from your enemies!

A PRAYER: Lord when the times cause us to tremble, turn our hearts to You!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you!

Scripture passages are from the New International Version