Standing on the ROCK

What a time to be alive! 

We're in a season of violence – race relations harking back to a darker time in history, police officers ambushed and murdered, protests and riots, disturbance and thuggery while the nation gears up to elect a new President. And in the running are a billionaire businessman and a former first lady. 

Islam is growing and in the current political arena seems to be the protected and favored religion. Political correctness is at an all-time high (or low, depending on your point of view). History is rewritten, the constitution is disregarded, and traditional words and morals are redefined. Our flag is stomped on or set on fire in the streets. Terrorism increases as bombings, mass shootings, executions and persecution occur with frightening regularity, and places of worship once honored and respected, are no longer a refuge. We are like ants on a circus ball spinning crazily out of control.

And yet…we have HOPE!

Hope in The God of hope – who never leaves or forsakes us.

Hope in The God who is Majestic and Sovereign – who is never caught by surprise and who is not wringing his hands in despair.

Hope in The One who has the power to raise the dead – who will one day judge the small and the great- who will right every wrong.

Hope in The One who is able to use even a donkey (See the Story of Balaam - Numbers 22:22-34),

or a rock (See the story of the wilderness wanderings - Exodus 17:1-6, Nehemiah 9:15), 

a pagan king (Cyrus - 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Isaiah 44:28),

or a shepherd boy (David - 1 Samuel 17) –

to fulfill HIS purposes.

Hope in The One who keeps all His promises, who never fails, and who is ever-present – 

The One who cannot lie – 

The One who IS the Truth – 

The One who sees, and hears, and cares.

HE is our hope.
Hallelujah!
Even So, come Lord Jesus.

Nehemiah 4:14 “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome…”

Recall the words of this hymn so seldom sung today:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. 

         On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;
         all other ground is sinking sand.

When Darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.

When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found!

Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!

                                                                                            Text: Edward Mote, 1797-1874