The Bible lands are a very stony place; rocks and stones are common word pictures throughout scripture. In Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream revealed a rock which destroyed all the kingdoms of the earth; we know that kingdom is Christ’s. Peter, the disciple whose very name means stone, was told by Jesus that the truth of Christ’s identity is the rock upon which the Church is built. Jesus is the rock upon which the wise build their lives. He was the Spiritual Rock from which the desert-wandering Israelites were refreshed; He still quenches thirsts. The Word of the Law was written upon stone but the Word became life! As unbelievers we had hearts of stone but the Living Stone of Christ brings life into our hearts. We are now living stones being built up into a spiritual house of which He is the Cornerstone. Contemplating Christ reveals great beauty in stones, does it not?!
Stones are solid and foundational; we need them! There is much in our world to remind us that instability is the norm. A wobbly world-wide economy, volatile weather, incurable diseases and dissolving families reveal a crumbling world. The words of the Psalmist are a joy: ‘When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.’ We have a glorious message to share with our trembling friends! The temptation to look at the quaking foundations of America—of every nation today--will only produce fear. Greed, selfishness and the desire to be our own gods is imploding the structure of nations once built upon the Word. Yet as individual living stones, we are part of the spiritual house held together by Christ. Our lives do not need to implode or even shake. We need not fear, only revere, the One True God. The God who is loving and faithful and not willing that any should perish has given us a message to share. Just as Noah called for others to join him in the Ark, we need to call others into Christ. Do not fear as the world crumbles! Remember the Sure Foundation upon which you stand…and call others to join you in that safety.
Stones are solid and foundational; we need them! There is much in our world to remind us that instability is the norm. A wobbly world-wide economy, volatile weather, incurable diseases and dissolving families reveal a crumbling world. The words of the Psalmist are a joy: ‘When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.’ We have a glorious message to share with our trembling friends! The temptation to look at the quaking foundations of America—of every nation today--will only produce fear. Greed, selfishness and the desire to be our own gods is imploding the structure of nations once built upon the Word. Yet as individual living stones, we are part of the spiritual house held together by Christ. Our lives do not need to implode or even shake. We need not fear, only revere, the One True God. The God who is loving and faithful and not willing that any should perish has given us a message to share. Just as Noah called for others to join him in the Ark, we need to call others into Christ. Do not fear as the world crumbles! Remember the Sure Foundation upon which you stand…and call others to join you in that safety.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand...good song to have running through my head today :0)
ReplyDeleteAmen! Oh how I would love to share a sermon I just recently heard. Yes, we are on the solid rock....lively stones. Quote: "The church building is the temple built by human hands. Do we realize the Temple of the Holy Spirit? Do we recognize the Holy Spirit in the other person? Some people are trials and sin will diminish the presence of the Holy Spirit within a person, but it can "NEVER" be extinguished. We are to recognize God within us and within others. It is only then we can love our neighbor as ourselves and love one another as Christ loves us." End Quote. What a powerful message. Billiejo, you are so right....we are not to be fearful, we are to love as He commanded us and to Trust and to stand upon the Solid Rock no matter what we see going on in the world.
ReplyDeleteBeeg