SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                           1025

“Like a Rock”

There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2)

Whenever I read Scripture that describes our Lord as a rock I get a mental image of the Rock of Gibraltar. Perhaps this stems from being exposed to the logo of a 140 year old insurance and financial services company that uses this image to convey its stability and permanence.

Yet no matter how majestic and stable the world’s magnificent rocks and mountains are, they remain temporary, fragile, fluid and simply cannot compare to the rock solid stability of our Lord Jesus. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain… For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you…says the Lord… (Isaiah 40:4; 54:10)

The Word of God tells us that He is the solid rock foundation for His church and we are the living stones that He will build into His spiritual house. …And I tell you, you are Peter (Petros, e.g.: pebble), and on this rock (Petra, e.g.: boulder, mountain) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:16-20; 1 Peter 2:5)

Sadly, the proliferation of denominations claiming to be Christian has brought about various doctrinal belief systems that seek to lay foundations other than that of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

In building His church, Jesus made provision for us to be discipled, to learn and grow in spiritual maturity so that we would not be deceived by false doctrine. … There is one body and one Spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all…And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4:3-14)

Upon what ground do you stand? Is it slippery or easily shaken? Is it shifting, sinking sand? Does it provide a stable, solid surface for you to withstand the storms of life and attacks of the enemy of your soul? But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ… Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…  (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

May you place your hope and trust solely in the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Accept no substitutes.

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 62:6; 121:1-2)