Build on The Rock

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” -Psalm 20:7

We love the good times in life, don’t we? Laughter and fun make up some of our favorite moments. No one enjoys hardship. The longer you live, the more you come to realize you will experience both beauty and difficulty. Even though we are generally happy when life seems to be going well, it’s the tough seasons of life that really shape us like no other. Trials and tragedies bring out both the best and the worst in people, including ourselves. It’s when we are tested and refined in the fire that we see what we are truly made of. How we respond to these trying times comes to determine the course of much of our lives. Whether we make wise or foolish decisions impacts us and our communities. In light of these challenging days, what do you put your trust in?

Life is full of quicksand that looks like solid ground. What do I mean by this? People often place their trust in all kinds of things to help protect and save them, but do these things really have the ability to save? A few of these things that come to mind are: money, family, friends, our own strength, cars, guns, firefighters, police officers, governors, politicians, our houses, church, jobs, our health, doctors and so forth. The list goes on. You fill in the blank. When push comes to shove though, will your money save you? If you receive an inoperable cancer diagnosis, will the doctor save you? When your house is burning down, will your home save you from harm? How about a firefighter? Of course these things can help save you at times and it’s wise to seek out help when you need it, but none of them are a sure bet in all situations. In Psalm 20:7, David writes, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Now of course, we are usually not running around in chariots and on horses as our main forms of transportation today. However, we can substitute in words like “cars” and “money.” You can pick any two words from the list above to get the idea. David shows us the secret to a perfectly peaceful and eternally secure life: “Trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

God has many names in the Bible, but the name of the Son of God, Jesus, is his name that is above all names. In Philippians 2:9-11, the Apostle Paul proclaims, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” It’s in this all powerful name, the name of God, that we are to put our total and complete trust. This is the only solid ground we can stand on in this life. When the flames engulf you on every side, when the cancer is inoperable, when you enter bankruptcy, only Jesus can give you hope and comfort through his Holy Spirit. Only he can be with you when all else fails and give you a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Think of the word “righteous” as meaning “in right relationship with Jesus.” Now is the time to search your heart. See if there is any place where you have trusted in something other than Jesus and make a decision to surrender your life 100 percent to him. Is there anywhere in your life you have relied on yourself to keep yourself safe? I know I have! We can live a peaceful life no matter what our circumstances look like by giving Jesus everything!

Jesus is a great storyteller and the best teacher! The book of Matthew records a story Jesus told to illustrate the importance of trusting him and his Word: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27). Jesus and his Word are our rock! When life throws us into turmoil, we can stand firm in him, knowing we will make it through with his strength. If we ignore him, we will feel the very sand beneath our feet give way. As the old hymn goes, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand” (Edward Mote). Be encouraged today! Build your life on the Rock and feel the hand of God hold you firm and secure. It is a decision you will NEVER regret!