The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. (Psalms 37:12,13—NIV)

The wicked do not become too upset over our faith in the blood atonement or our talk about going to mansions in Heaven. Rather they "plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them" over issues of righteous behavior. For example, in past years we have had a president who lied to the country. Some of the people are concerned about this. But it appears many Americans seem to view lying as pardonable human frailty. There is a schism here and it is giving rise to violent passion.

Now notice, the Lord does not gnash back at the wicked and He does not want you or me to be gnashing back at them. The Lord laughs at the wicked because He knows their day of punishment is coming. He wants you and me to laugh with Him and realize the Lord is in control and the wicked shall be punished in due time.

If you find it impossible to laugh with the Lord, then pray until you can, until He lifts your anger and bitterness. The Lord does not honor or accept our fretting. Fretting leads only to sin. The wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

Be an Isaac and laugh at the wicked. They will need your help and prayers soon enough.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge—(Psalms 91:9—NIV)

All of the above help and deliverance depends on our abiding in Christ. Abiding in Christ does not mean at some past time we have taken "the four steps of salvation." It means right now, this very minute, we are looking to Jesus for all we are saying, thinking, and doing. We actually are abiding in Christ, living in Christ as in an environment, holding all our decisions, worries, fears, hopes, dreads, and dreams before Him so we do not take one step out of His will. Only then can we claim the promises of the ninety-first Psalm.

David says, "even the Lord, who is my refuge." The Lord was David's hiding place. It also is true that the Spirit of Christ dwelled in David and was saying God the Father is Christ's dwelling place. The Lord Jesus always dwells in God and lives by the Life of God. So it must be true that we always dwell in Christ and live by the Life of Christ.

Then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. (Psalms 91:10—NIV)

A similar promise is as follows:

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Psalms 34:7—NIV)

In order to have such protection we must fulfill the conditions. It is not enough just to attend an Evangelical church. It is not enough to believe correct doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not enough to take the "four steps of salvation." It is not enough to be able to look back at a point in time and say "I accepted Christ" or "I was born again at that time."

Salvation is always "today." The Kingdom of God is as a seed. It is alive in us and growing if we are tending to it. But it is entirely possible for that seed to perish without bearing lasting fruit.

To be continued.