The full verse (in non-children’s
format) is… “Trust in the Lord
forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
(NIV). The New American Standard Bible says it this way: “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”
It’s the word “eternal” that is
grabbing my attention. There is no earthly rock that is eternal. Earthly rocks
may give the impression that they will last forever, but they will not. Just
ask the folks of New Hampshire after the “Old Man of the Mountain” fell. This
stone formation that looked like a face was a fixture for centuries – even
millennia – but it fell off the mountain in a moment’s time on May 3, 2003. No
one ever expected it. The collapse of the “Great Stone Face” was an emotional
blow to the people of New Hampshire.
Here on Mount Desert Island there
are two rocks that stand out in the minds of locals and visitors alike: Bubble
Rock on the South Bubble above Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park, and Balance
Rock, a large stone along the Shore Path in Bar Harbor. Countless children (and
adults) have tried to “push” these over… to no avail. They are massive stones. You
would think they’ll be there forever. But someday (who knows when?) some force
– erosion, earthquake, or who knows what? – will succeed in breaking these
stones or causing them to fall. It may be years – centuries – after I’m gone,
but someday it will happen. Why? Because these rocks are not eternal. And this
is just as true of Mount Rushmore and every well-known and unknown stone in the
world. Only God is the everlasting Rock.
When you climb the trails on MDI,
you will often come upon ledges that are becoming smooth due to foot traffic.
The same is true on Katahdin’s Knife Edge. It’s true on Mars Hill in Athens,
Greece. As hard and durable as it is, stone wears. It cracks and breaks. But
God never “wears”. He never tires. His glory never diminishes. God never
“breaks”. He is eternally omnipotent. He cannot be moved, because there is
nothing stronger and greater than He is. No human effort, no natural force can
weaken or lessen Him. There is only one “eternal Rock”. He is “the
eternal Rock.”
This is a wonderful truth to know
and meditate on in a world of constant change, and in a world that persistently
challenges the existence and character of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The
world invites us to hold on to it and what it offers, as if it never fails. The
truth is… in the end - just like earthly stones – the world always fails. It
always will. It may look good and sound good. The world seems like it will
satisfy. But it can’t offer any lasting satisfaction. Only the eternal Rock
can. Only the eternal Rock can protect us and give us an eternal hope. The next
time you see any impressive rock, let it remind you that only the Lord will never
fail.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV) – “I will proclaim the name
of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is
the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are
just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
Psalm 18:2 (NIV) – “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my
deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my
shield and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.”
Romans 9:33 (NIV) – “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.’”
PRAYER: “You are the Rock of my salvation, You are the
strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration, Lord unto You will I
cry. I believe in You… believe in You... for Your faithful love to me. You have
been my help in time of need, Lord unto You will I cleave. You are the Rock of
my salvation, You are the strength of my life.* In Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.”
* - lyrics by Teresa Muller. Listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cMcsS2nOII.
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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