Rocks are for throwing. If you can find a flat one you can skip it across the water. Use a round rock to throw at an attacking dog to get him to knock it off! But rocks are also for climbing. Big rocks are sturdy and some mountainous areas so big they are absolutely immoveable.
Words like shield, fortress, horn of salvation, and of course, ROCK, depict the power and protection of God over His people. God as a rock speaks of His stability – He is immovable; consequently, when we are on shaky ground we need to go to the rock of our salvation. And guess what? We are always on shaky ground in this life. There is never a time when we do not need God our rock to give us stability and security.
Augustus M. Toplady is said to have written the song Rock of Ages in 1775 during a fierce storm as he found shelter in a gap in a gorge. As he found physical safety in the rock he thought of his spiritual safety in God who is like a rock for him as he walked by faith. One might think from the title of the song that Toplady speaks of God’s physical protection in the troubles of life; however, the lyrics only speak of spiritual shelter we receive from God’s mercy and grace. And, of course, his song in cemented in the cross of Christ.
Read and meditate on the lyrics of this timeless song. Also, read Matthew 7:21-28. Then listen to Rock of Ages and maybe do like the old Prudential commercial says, “Get a piece of the rock”.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Not the labour of my hands can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Saviour, or I die!
While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown, see Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
Matthew 7:21-28
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on 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 slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on 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 slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;