Panic

In John 16, Jesus asked a pertinent question; one we can consider for our own lives, when we are beset by fear, when we feel tentative and insecure. We can read these words:
31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Do you now believe?  Jesus had been walking with His disciples for quite some time, but He knew things were going to get rougher for His followers, into whom He had poured His life. He recognized what would happen to Him and was exhorting them to walk in His peace, and to even be joyful. 

Things may look bleak for us from time to time - that may be where you're living right now.  But, just as Jesus knew He would die on a cross, but be raised to new life, we can experience His overcoming power through His new life.  Times may look dark, but we can look to His light that shines.

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There is a passage in Proverbs 18 that can be very insightful in these times, which can certainly produce fear. We can read this:
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.

But, we can also recognize that security is not ultimately determined by earthly riches or the things of this world. Proverbs 11 says:
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

The flames of fear that were fanned during the pandemic have now morphed into economic fears.  And, fear over matters of safety.  There is a sentiment that the world really is a dangerous place.

One would think that our homes would be places of protection from danger, but a significant number of people, it seems, think that is not enough.  A Hollywood Reporter piece published back in March quotes Dean Cryer, who is the Vice-President of International Operations at Building Consensus/Panic Room Builders, who said: “Our influx of inquiries has increased more than 1,000 percent over the past three months,” adding, “It’s gone insane.”

The article goes on to say:

Because of the perceived increase in crime in metropolitan areas and high-profile murders and robberies in high-net-worth neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, “hidden rooms are definitely trending right now,” says Cryer.

And, oddly enough, real estate agents are being hush-hush about panic room locations, since a potential thief could be trying to obtain that information, according to the article.

The article notes:

In business for 25 years, Building Consensus/Panic Room (which consulted on the 2002 movie Panic Room) builds various safe spaces ranging in security levels from one through eight. Safe rooms at level three may be protected with Kevlar, while a level eight is encased in thick steel. “Just the doors can be 2,000 to 3,000 pounds,” says Cryer. “And then we’re installing steel within the room. So, we’re generating up to 10,000 pounds in a room.”

And, safe rooms are morphing from just being steel and cameras to being fully furnished, even luxurious. Emil Hartoonian of The Agency said that he had encountered a room with some rather unique furnishings, in the form of supplies. He said, “I think there was more artillery in there than probably one of the bunkers of the U.S. Army,” adding, “There were packs of food that wouldn’t go bad for two years. Television, microwave, small bathroom … I mean, it was like a little self-sufficient, almost studio apartment, if you will. Ready to take on the zombie apocalypse.”

There's apparently a high price to pay for one of these rooms; Cryer says, “You could kit out a small closet for about $100,000, $150,000. And then it’s north of there. We’ve done one in London that had two rooms, full suites … and that was over a million dollars..."

Home security can certainly be a wise investment, but the installation of a panic room illustrates the human need to feel safe and secure.  And, it's a symptom of a deep-seated fear that is penetrating our culture.  It's not just crime, it's inflation, it's concern over the moral fiber of our society.  The seemingly daily dose of fear that was generated by COVID still resonates in the minds of many - a public health concern was weaponized to the point that people were willing to surrender freedom for a sense of security.  

In a spiritual sense, we can discover true freedom and by so doing, gain a sense of security.  At Faith Radio, we used a phrase during the pandemic, "Faith Over Fear."  Faith doesn't mean we are reckless and don't take practical steps to ensure safety, but a pervasive sense of fear of what could happen is not healthy.  It weighs down our spirits, infects our minds, and can even paralyze us in how we live each day. If faith overcomes fear, and faith comes by hearing the Word of God, as Scripture states, then our consumption of God's Word should ideally increase in order to counter the steady diet of fear that we are being served by various influences. 

We know that we may be in for difficult times ahead.  Jesus promised that we would encounter trials in this life. But, He also said to "be of good cheer."  Why?  Because He has overcome the world.  That means that in the midst of our trying times, when adversity comes, we can call out to and trust in Him. We can walk with the viewpoint that we are secure in Him.