I'm with the ROCK!!!
Rocks…either you love them, or you have this generalised apathy towards them that acknowledges their existence, but you just pay them ‘no-nevermind’.
Rocks, in particular large, humongous rocks have been used throughout human history for a wide range of things. Piles of rocks were used as markers for territorial boundaries. Huge stones were used in building megalithic structures all around the globe. Others were piled up and used as sacrificial alters to various false gods, and to Yahweh (the only God).
One thing that most people can appreciate is the strength and stability of rocks. When rocks are grouped together they create magnificent landscapes and natural features, influencing the environment around them.
Jesus is described as being the ‘Rock’ or the ‘Cornerstone’ in both the Old and New Testaments. The connection and imagery is a stunning revelation of Jesus’ character and nature.
While there are many instances where Yahweh, and in particular Jesus (as the Messiah) are spoken of as the ‘rock’…here are but a few. May they shed light on the value of Jesus being the bedrock of your life…
Firstly, from the Old Testament:
The prophet Isaiah had much to say about the coming Messiah and the future, including many prophecies against the enemies of Yahweh and his people. In Isaiah 26:3-5, Isaiah speaks these encouraging words - “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.”
Because ‘the Rock’ is eternal (meaning He is divine, and He is God) these verses are a treasure-trove of encouragement. In these days of turmoil, of struggle and of chaos it is often hard to find peace. Yet, if a person is a steadfast believer in Yahweh, then they will experience peace of mind. This is a precious gift to us, especially in our times of need.
Furthermore, God will humble those that set themselves above Him. he will bring down the systems that set themselves above the ethics and morality that God has commanded us to live by. This is also an encouragement to us in these evil days. Someday in the future God will judge the world for its evil and sins.
Psalm 18:1-2 gives us further encouragement when King David announces, “I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.”
Rocky outcrops, hillsides and mountains have been used as fortresses and places of refuge in a great many nations and tribes over human history (and continue to do so to this day).
Fortresses are only needed if you have enemies. We, as believers have the Devil (Satan/Lucifer) as our greatest enemy and there are times in our lives when he attacks us in ways and intensities that we cannot handle ourselves. So, we need somewhere to retreat to for our own protection.
It is in this viewpoint that we see God being shown to be our refuge and our fortress. God is the only one who can protect us from the flaming arrows of the enemy, and the only one who will eventually defeat him in the final days.
If we draw close to God through prayer and the reading of His word, then we gain strength and security in God’s presence.
Psalm 78:35 is a verse where King David is echoing the voice of God in regards to His people, “They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.”
This verse foreshadows the coming Messiah (as the Redeemer), who is our rock.
Sometimes in our darkest periods of our lives we forget what God has done for us in the past. However, it is precisely in those troubling times that we should ‘remember’ God and what he has already done for us…especially by providing us with ‘The Redeemer’ - His son Jesus.
It is on this truth that we need to stand - That Jesus is the ‘Son of God’, that he died for our sins, and he rose from the grave. That belief is the foundation of our lives, and upon it we must stand.
Now for the New Testament:
In Matthew 21:42 Jesus is speaking to His disciples and said, “…Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes’?” -
Here Matthew is recalling a time when Jesus is talking to the 12 Disciples and refers to Psalm 118:22-23 - when Jesus talks about himself as being ‘the cornerstone’.
A cornerstone is the stone that is placed in the corner foundations of a building - this stone (or rock) is even and balanced, so that all the other stones extend out from that stone and are in perfect alignment.
If Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives, then we will be in perfect alignment with the will of the Father, and we will act in obedience to that will. Conversely, if we do not have Jesus as the foundation of our lives, then we will act outside fo the Father’s will for our lives, and we will live in disobedience to Him.
Paul, in writing to the the believers in Rome, states in Romans 9:32-33 “Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written:“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
This is an interesting set of verses. At first glance it does not sound positive at all. Yet, within these strongly worded verses Paul is letting us know that for those who do not believe in God, and put their faith/trust in Jesus, then the truth of Him will cause the non-believers to stumble (as they live in their sin which blinds them to their foolishness).
However, for those that do believe and place their trust in Jesus Christ - they will never be put to shame. Meaning that we will be protected, no matter how difficult our circumstances.
So, we have seen that the concept of Jesus/Yahweh being ‘The Rock’ is an important and encouraging one. Jesus is the one to whom we should turn to and trust when our enemy attacks us. Jesus is the one to whom we should trust to deal with our enemies, and to bring about justice - in this way we will not be shamed. Then we are blessed by our redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
That is why we should be willing to say “I’m with the ROCK!!!”…