Our Rock and Our Assurance

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on a
rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

If you’ve looked at the newspapers lately, listened to news broadcasts, or read
the news feeds on the internet you may have come to the same conclusion that I
have – there’s an awful lot of uncertainty running around in that world out
there.

 Whether it’s the war on terrorism, increasing
energy costs, the murder rate, the economy, or any other thing we human beings
put our hands to, the reality is that, from a human perspective, there’s
absolutely nothing that’s certain and absolutely reliable.

I’m reminded of John Steinbeck’s book, “Of Mice and
Men” where he quotes from Robert Burns’ poem, “The Mouse”:
“The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley” (“go oft
awry”).  Like George and Lennie,
Steinbeck’s two main characters, it often seems as if all our hopes are dashed
by the whims of the world, no one can count on anything for certain.

David’s marvelous prayer in II Samuel 22 came at a time of great insecurity and
uncertainty for him, as well as for the people of Israel.  They had faced the attack of the Philistines,
time and time again going up against overwhelming numbers.  Yet, with the help of God, David and his men
defeated them and saved Israel.  Having
been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be King Saul’s successor, David had to
flee from Saul’s attempts to kill him while at the same time fighting the
Philistines.

If ever a human being had a reason to feel insecure and
uncertain about his future, David was that person.  But his hymn of praise, as recorded in II
Samuel 22, shows just the opposite.  He
praises God as his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer. (vs. 2)  He confidently sees God as his sure and
certain refuge who shields him from his enemies and saves him from all that
would do him harm.

Fast forward to the New Testament where Jesus puts forth His Word of hope for
His disciples.  In the face of the whims
and insecurities of life, Jesus assures us that His Word provides a solid
foundation and a certainty of life with Him.  He assures us that nothing can take us away
from Him and none of life’s storms can drag us from His loving arms.

In that obedience we experience the absolute certainty of
our salvation in Christ.  By faith we
know His forgiveness which breaks Sin’s bondage.  By faith we are assured that Death no longer
has any power over us.  By faith we’re
confident that Satan, the “old evil foe,” has been defeated and can
no longer tear us away from our Father’s loving arms.

In a world mixed with uncertainty, insecurity, and the continuing attacks of
evil men seeking to destroy God’s work and His people, we have Christ as the
“solid rock” on which we build our lives.  He is our Rock and our Assurance.  In Him we have all the purpose for life we
need and a message of hope and peace for everyone we meet.