“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1: 1-5, 14 & 17)
Jesus, the Rock of Ages, Who was in the bosom of the Father, was prophesied and talked about in the Old Testament. His impending birth would bring both joy and hatred to a corrupt world that was so out of control. We needed a Savior, a physical body, the atoning blood of Christ applied to our lives. The blood with miracle-working power. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3: 18)
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the One Who we meet before we can get to the Father. He is our Protector, Hope, Help, Source, Friend, Comforter, Mediator, Teacher, Intercessor, Inspiration, Way Maker, Burden Bearer, our Solid Rock and the Firm Foundation on which we stand. He is many things to us including our Anchor in the storm, Tower of Strength and our Defender in any battle. He is the only foundation for the Church. No other compares to His sure and perfect foundation. Jesus represents not only stability but also durability. He has endured everything that Satan has tried to test, tempt and defeat Him in and He has come out victoriously on top as winner of every battle. The grave is empty, death was conquered, love reigns and salvation is at hand. So there are no losers in Christ Jesus. He has proven to be trustworthy and unmovable, and nothing can change that or His affection towards us. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95: 1)
This glorious journey is filled with so much excitement that only Jesus can give. Everyone’s first encounter with Him is something to behold. That first touch will be forever embedded in our hearts and minds for a lifetime. The power of having your sins forgiven leaves a heavenly stain upon your heart that is almost impossible to believe. You are now in touch with the Master of it all, the Holy One, the Ancient of Days, the One Who gives and takes away, the One Who holds our very breath in His hand, the One Who thunders marvelously with His voice and the One Who lovingly, patiently gives us tender mercies every day. We can go on and on because His greatness spans the globe from the beginning of time and throughout eternity.
Your relationship with God is not an overnight project. It is a life-long process. Christianity is a whole-hearted commitment to the teachings and person of Christ Jesus. He has called us to pray, taught us to love and has commissioned us to share the gospel of grace. He enables us to go forth in His presence and under His power to be both salt and light to the world as we submit ourselves fully to His will. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word.” (Psalm 119: 1-4, 10-11 & 15-16)
We come to Christ not for the benefits, the blessings, good health, good feelings and the miracles, but we should come in utter helplessness as convicted sinners doomed for damnation, who’s sins need to be forgiven and washed away. The blessings and benefits are a bonus which God gives freely every day. That should not be the focus. We come to Christ for redemption, salvation, freedom from sin and the power over darkness. We come for a purpose: to have access to the Father through His Son by faith and prayer, to reap the benefits of eternal life and to hear the gracious words being taught us at Church and in His Holy Word. These are the days when God’s Words are precious because one day soon there will be a famine. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8: 11-12)
Jesus had many followers. The people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God. As He taught they were astonished at His doctrine. For His Word was with power: “And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 5: 15, 18-19 & 21) “And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His Word was with power.” (Luke 5: 32)
Jesus is not someone you casually set aside. He is the Son of the Living God to be held in reverence and honor as we do the Father at all times. Yeah, He calls us friends but He is not a “homeboy”, so we don’t speak to Him as such. He is a special friend, the One Who truly cares and knows every thing about us. He is the only One Who laid down His life for His friends. That in and of itself deserves great respect and adoration. It deserves praise and gratitude every day, all day long. It deserves laying prostrate on the floor before the King of kings and the Lord of lords He paid the price to have rights as such. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” (John 15: 13-16)
We are not called to a playground but to a battlefield. It is not always a picnic or a bed of roses. Even picnics have ants and flies and roses have thorns. Salvation is free but discipleship costs us everything. It’s about suiting up for war, getting in the trenches to fight a holy war with Satan and his minions. Our soul is at stake as we fight for our eternal life with Jesus Christ our Savior. It is in the trenches and on the battlefield where we have to solely rely on Christ our Solid Rock. Without Him we would lose every time because we are no match for Satan but we are overcomers in and through Jesus. “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1: 18) The fight is fixed and Jesus is already the winner. He conquered death, hell and the grave. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20: 14-15) He has defeated Satan, now He’s waiting to issue him his punishment. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20: 10)
When things seem dreary and without hope, grab hold to the strength that has been poured out unto you. The notion of hopelessness does not exist in God’s Kingdom. He gives us spiritual strength to combat every scheme aimed at us to discourage and tear down our faith. The substance of everything we hope for is positioned in our faith in God. Faith is when you praise God in the storm, trust Him in the valley and you follow Him in the dark. He gives grace and strength to help us endure, overcome and prevail. So keep on walking with Jesus, even if the road is dark, if you feel defeated, even if you keep trying but you keep tripping over your own two feet. Remember that God uses isolation as preparation to develop us for the manifestation of His promises. You may be hidden but not forgotten. The refinement process is sometimes hard and lonely but there’s progress in the process. God will show up somehow, somewhere to show you Himself. So let your days be joyful and productive as you press. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61: 2)
We are flawed people like many in the Bible who have made shockingly poor choices and yet still we find ourselves pursued by God. We comprehend the basic truths of Christ’s sacrificial death and the triumph of His resurrection so we must be confronted with God’s demand to turn from our sins to embrace Christ our Solid Rock as Lord and Savior. Let us truly understand how utterly holy our God is and that He has chosen us to be holy. So let us keep our thoughts holy, our works and ways holy, too. Let us love what is holy and defend what is holy. We always seek to reflect high ethical standards and doing the right things regardless of the circumstances. Your conduct reflects your character and builds your reputation. We follow after righteousness, we live in peace, we love the brethren and we practice strong, moral principles and values as being examples and representatives of Christ for others to follow.
Who is this Jesus? His love is unquestionable, His power unconquerable, His impact unmistakable, His mission undeniable, His mystery unexplainable, His sacrifice incomparable, His price unimaginable, His depth immeasurable and His absence is unthinkable. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1Timothy 3: 16)
It is high time to wake up. Every single day is getting shorter. The rich young ruler thought that he was safe to inherit eternal life but he had one thing standing in his way ….. his worldly possessions. One little thing can keep you out of heaven. Perhaps it’s a grudge that you’re holding on to, or maybe that rebellious spirit or the pride of life. Maybe you love the world more than you love God. Perhaps you dabble in unrighteousness here and there or you can’t seem to shake off drugs or alcohol, etc., etc., etc. Or maybe it’s secular music, friends, lust or you lack brotherly love. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13: 11-14)
Jesus knows our sins. He’s coming back soon and He’s getting us ready to receive Him. Everyone will be going about their ordinary lives, doing daily deeds whether it is right or wrong. He will catch us in whatever position we are in at that particular time. Time will stop and we will have to answer to God. So purify your hearts, souls, minds and consider your ways. Unrighteousness will not enter the Kingdom of God. Obey the commands of the Lord and the Pastors and Elders. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church: “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…” (1 Peter 2: 1-11)
Christ the Solid Rock will appear in power and great glory. You can build on Him or stumble over Him but you cannot go around Him. He is the One Who determines destiny. Either Jesus will be your Savior or He will be your Judge. He will be a stepping stone or a stumbling block but you will have an appointment with Him. He is inescapable, He is inevitable, He is inexhaustible and He is unavoidable. You have a date with Jesus one day because He is the Christ of your destiny one way or the other. He is the door that lets you in or the door that keeps you out. What He will do with you is determined by what you will do with Him.
May we desire Him more deeply, seek Him more fervently and love Him more passionately to be a holy, godly church. “…Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 25-27)