ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND
Matthew 7:24-27

One of the most used descriptions of God throughout the pages of the Scripture is that of a rock.  Allow me to just share a couple of these outstanding passages with you:

The Rock!  His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.  (Deuteronomy 32:4)

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  (Psalm 18:2)

May I encourage you to take a concordance and begin to travel through Scripture reading those verses that describe our God as a rock.  I know your heart will be as blessed as was mine. 

Years ago, a sailor, in a shipwreck, was thrown upon a rock where he clung in great danger until the tide went down.  Later a friend asked him, “Jim, didn’t you shake with fear when you were hanging on that rock?”  “Yes, but the rock didn’t,” was the significant reply.  And, friends, Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages, will not shake either.

Friends, when the storms come and threaten to overwhelm us, Christ whispers, “Peace, be still.”

When frustrations and discouragement mount and pressures become almost more than we can bear, Jesus promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God” (Isaiah 43:2-3).

When illness strikes our bodies and leaves us drained of strength, Jesus proclaims hope, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”  (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When we are alone and seemingly forsaken by family and friends, Jesus still promises I will never leave you or forsake you.

A few years ago, I was privileged to obtain a copy of the biography of one of the unknown missionary leaders of the last century.  His name was William Borden.  He attended Yale University as an undergraduate and afterwards became a missionary candidate, planning to work in China.  When he made his decision to invest his life in this service, many of his friends thought him foolish, for he had come from a good family, having had wealth and influence.  “Why are you going to throw away your life in some foreign country,” they asked, “when you can have such an enjoyable and worthwhile life here?”

But William Borden of Yale had heard the call of God.  While in Egypt, on the way to China and even before he had much of a chance to do anything, he became sick. Soon it became evident to everyone, including himself, that he would die.  At this point, Borden could have said to himself, “What a waste.  My friends were right.  I could have stayed in New Haven.”  But Borden did not think this way.  As he lay on his death bed in Egypt, he scribbled a farewell note to his friends that was in some sense his epitaph.  The note said, “No reserve, no retreat, and no regrets.”  William Borden had built upon the Rock.

Father, I love those words from the hymn writer:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.  Oh, Lord, help us to stand firmly upon that Rock.  Plant our feet securely upon it.  May we not be swayed by the storms.  But may our strength be found in You.  Then we can sing with another writer:  It is well with my soul.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.  

 

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