Christ, the Solid Rock

When I got the reminder that I was up for the FYI post, I almost responded that I just couldn’t do it. When you consider the pandemic, the economy, and societal race tensions, the world is in perhaps one of its lowest points in my lifetime. I don’t have anything to say that would be helpful, and I have much more work to do before I dare compile thoughts to be sent out on the inter webs. But then I remembered, it’s not about me. As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, it should always, always be about the Gospel. And that is something I hope I can humbly share.

We are in a storm right now in practically every sense. For some of us it is actually in every sense. The question I felt like I needed to ask myself this week is which side am I on and how do I show that through actions? But what Jesus graciously revealed to me is that that is the wrong question for me (and maybe all of us) to be asking right now. The question is, “Where are you?” Let’s look at the passage below.

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. (Luke 6:46-49 NIV)

Our society has wanted to dismiss the idea of absolute truth for quite some time, but it’s become more prevalent in recent years. Pithy slogans like “you do you” and “live your truth” have become more and more accepted and even encouraged. “Find yourself!” “Live your passion!” This is all fine and good until we find ourselves in a situation where there are a lot of different people from a lot of different backgrounds who disagree on what is truthful and right. Sadly this happens even in the Church. So what do we do in these situations?

We look at where we are and what we’re built upon. We remember that this life is not about us. It is about the solid rock on which we stand.

The beauty of being a believer in the family of God is that I can speak God’s truth because of Christ who is in me, through the power of the Holy Spirit. That privilege alone should blow us away every day. And thanks be to our kind God that it is not my truth that should be spread, because oh, what a mess that would be. As believers, we know there is but ONE truth and it is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And when we stand on the solid rock, the true solid rock, loving our neighbor as ourselves is inevitable. We know where we need to be. And that’s where our actions should stem from.

Not one of us signed up for this: to be homeschooling, working from home, struggling with layoffs, in the middle of a global pandemic, during a potential recession, in the midst of civil crisis in our country. Not one of us signed up for what color skin we have. Not one of us signed up to be in any of the current storms we find ourselves in. But what most of us within Creekside have signed up for is to follow Jesus. And this is an uncomfortable, hard, sacrificial life. The world says, “Find yourself!” The Word says deny yourself. Control yourself. Live a life of sacrificial love. “Live your best life” admittedly sounds like a lot more fun right now. But we aren’t living for just right now, are we? We’re living for the eternal hope of God’s kingdom, every tribe and nation. We are living for eternal joy.