Our Rock - Our Certainty - Our Confidence

"Today's Devotion" For August 30, 2005

Read: Matthew 7:24-27; II Samuel 22:1-7, 17-20, 31-35, 47-51

OUR ROCK - OUR CERTAINTY - OUR CONFIDENCE

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock."(Mt. 7:24)

If you've looked at the newspapers lately, listened to news broadcasts, or read the news feeds on the internet you may have come to the same conclusion that I have - there's an awful lot of uncertainty running around in that world out there. In Milwaukee the homicide rate has increased dramatically over last year. In Iraq the newest "grand experiment," establishing a democracy, is meeting with stiff opposition from terrorists, religious leaders, ethnic groups, and many Americans. The proposed constitution is in trouble before it even goes before the people in a referendum. Over in Afghanistan, what was once a seemingly placated countryside is starting to explode with more intense terrorist activity and more people are dying. The economy is growing, we're told, yet the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, Mr. Greenspan, has been cautioning investors that the risks they're taking are out of line with the eventual market correction that's coming. He even noted that the housing market, currently running away on itself, is due for a harsh, stiff correction sometime soon.

Can there be any doubt that this world is full of uncertainty? We Americans even have a cautionary saying that, "The only things you can be certain of are death and taxes." Whether it's the war on terrorism, increasing energy costs, the murder rate, the economy, or any other thing we human beings put our hands to, the reality is that, from a human perspective, there's absolutely nothing that's certain and absolutely reliable. I'm reminded of John Steinbeck's book, "Of Mice and Men" where he quotes from Robert Burns' poem, "The Mouse": "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley" ("go oft awry"). Like George and Lennie, Steinbeck's two main characters, it often seems as if all our hopes are dashed by the vagaries of the world - no one can count on anything for certain.

David's marvelous prayer in II Samuel 22 came at a time of great insecurity and uncertainty for him, as well as for the people of Israel. They had faced the onslaught of the Philistines, time and time again going up against overwhelming numbers. Yet, with the help of God, David and his men defeated them and saved Israel. Having been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be King Saul's successor, David had to flee from Saul's attempts to kill him while at the same time fighting the Philistines. If ever a human being had a reason to feel insecure and uncertain about his future, David was that person. But his hymn of praise, as recorded in II Samuel 22, shows just the opposite. He praises God as his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer (v.2). He confidently sees God as his sure and certain refuge Who shields him from his enemies and saves him from all that would do him harm.

Fast forward to our Gospel reading where Jesus puts forth His Word of hope for His disciples. In the face of the vagaries and insecurities of life, Jesus assures us that His Word provides a solid foundation and a certainty of life with Him. He assures us that nothing can take us away from Him and none of life's storms can drag us from His loving arms. Our lives find their solid foundation in Jesus and His Word. By the power of the Word and Spirit we have been brought to faith in Christ who is our Rock, our Certainty, and our Confidence. The world no longer has the power to hold us captive to its uncertainties and vagaries. Rather than following the world's lead, we follow Jesus' lead for we are called in the Word to follow Him as obedient disciples - servants serving Him and others in Jesus' name. In that obedience we experience the absolute certainty of our salvation in Christ. By faith we know His forgiveness which breaks Sin's bondage. By faith we are assured that Death no longer has any power over us. By faith we're confident that Satan, the "old evil foe," has been defeated and can no longer tear us away from our Father's loving arms.

In a world laced with uncertainty, insecurity, and the continuing onslaught of evil men seeking to destroy God's work and His people, we have Christ as the "solid rock" on which we build our lives. He is our Rock - our Certainty - our Confidence. In Him we have all the purpose for life we need and a message of hope and peace for everyone we meet.

Prayer: Father, life is one of the most incredible gifts You have given me and all people. To be able to draw breath every day and see the magnificence of Your creation is just too marvelous for words. Yet, because of the power of Sin, Death, and Satan in the world, it's also certain that life is uncertain without Your presence every day. There are so many uncertainties and pitfalls in life. All too often I find myself putting my trust in things that have no solid foundation, so that I end up falling flat on my face. Your promise to me is that just as You were David's Rock, so also in Christ are You my rock, my "rock solid" foundation and my certain hope Who gives me the confidence of faith so that I might live in service to You and others in Jesus' name. With thanksgiving, Father, I therefore step forward boldly in faith, knowing that nothing can tear me away from Your love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
***************************

--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.