Solid Life

The Earth turns. Storms rage, fires burn, volcanoes erupt, and the Earth turns. Armies wage war, nations rise and fall, droughts and famines come and go, and through it all the Earth turns. As Solomon says “Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.” Our life in Christ is like that. The storms and fires, eruptions and floods of life shake and destroy all that we love, but the Lord remains. My own sin and weakness undermine my faith, and yet the Lord remains. He says, “Lo, I am with you always; even to the end of the age.”

The apostle Paul elaborates: Even  “if we are disloyal and faithless, yet He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” Though Jesus says, “Whoever denies me before men, I will deny before my Father”, after Peter says he does not know Jesus, the  Lord cooks a breakfast for him on the beach, asks him to reaffirm his love, entrusts him with the care of the flock, and says to him again, just as he did at the first,” Follow Me.”

He is not a God to abandon those sinners who have once asked for mercy. You may not be a “consistent witness,” but the Lord is your consistent Savior. Your faith may fluctuate; the Lord remains faithful to you. As you stumble through this life, you stumble along through the deep canyons that are the lines in the palm of His hand. The Lord remains faithful. The hand of the Lord forever enfolds you.

 David boldly sings, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way.” We stand upon the Word of the Lord who says, “Heaven and earth may pass away, yet my words shall not pass away.” therefore, like the old hymn says, “I shall not be moved.”

Like the panicked apostles in the storm of Galilee, we worry and scurry about the deck of the mighty ship of our salvation, still it sails on unphased by the storm. The Lord of the storm is at rest in the bow. I can hear you out there fretting about your capacity to remain on deck; faithful, steady and standing in the Lord. Stop worrying. Let me assure you: you cannot keep your feet onboard. You’re welcome.  No, you cannot keep yourself saved. Consider these two verses: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” You belong to Him and so does your everlasting destiny: “Salvation also belongs to our God.” That means it is not under your control. You are not the savior but the saved. And this from the book of Psalms: “He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber.” The rock that holds your feet will not be moved.  Relax in the midst of the topsy-turvey, trespass troubled, tumultuous turmoil of your trials: the Lord your salvation remains. His name is Jah Our Salvation, that is: Jesus.