THE ROCK

I have always liked rocks.  As a child I had a rock collection and I still find myself picking up interesting looking rocks to keep and enjoy.  I always did a geology project in 4-H.  I remember my dad taking me to a quarry near our home to collect rocks to take home and test for my project.  

Rocks are the bones of the earth.  Some rocks are far from the surface and in other places the bones peek through.  

We live in a mountainous country.  Rocks are everywhere.  Naturally, the mountains have

names, but even many of the large rocks have names.  It is said that Sibebe Rock here in our country is the largest rock in Africa.  I don't know if that is true, but it is indeed a large rock.

Rocks have been important to mankind throughout history.  Archaeologists have found well used tools made from rocks.  The American Indians and other hunter/gatherers used rocks to make arrowheads or to fling with their slingshots to hunt game for food.  Rocks have even been used to record events.  Over 2000

years ago the San people (also known as Bushmen) lived in this area.  If you follow a nearly impassable road by car and then hike down the mountain with a guide you can still see the amazing paintings they left behind telling their stories.

Rocks are also the subject of proverbs.  We talk about being "rock solid." "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."  "Rocks need no protection from the rain," and many others.  

Scripture refers to rocks.  Remember when God told Moses to bring water from the rock so the people could drink?  When God wanted to show His back to Moses he used a rock to protect him:  "And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:21-23 (ESV)  

God is referred to as our rock:  “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation," 2 Samuel 22:47 (ESV)  

The church is founded on the rock, Jesus, the Son of God:  "Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:16-18 (ESV)

And then there is the well-loved story of the wise and foolish builders.  “Everyone then who

hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."  Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

Here is the important point.  We must have the foundation of our faith on the rock.  We live in a fallen world.  We will have problems.  When those times come it can be like a torrential rainfall.  We can wonder through the wind, rain, lightning and thunder if our faith will stand.  But, if it is founded on the rock it will not fall.  Our rock holds us in place even through the most terrifying storms.  

We see so many who face difficulties and lose their faith.  When the rains come if our faith is not firmly on the rock the water will wash the sand out from under us.  The wonderful thing is that we can be redeemed.  Our rock is always ready to hold us up if we just stand on Him.  

Don't be discouraged if you are in the midst of a storm.  Keep firmly on the rock, He will get you through.