Chapter one
My Rock
The Lord is my rock (Psa. 18:2). This is the very first spiritual experience, which we must have if we want to enjoy life fully. In God’s Word we see our Lord being called Rock: the Rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). It took the children of Israel about 38years, wandering in the wilderness, to enter into Canaan. It was just a desert and a barren wilderness. There was no water to drink, no beautiful trees to look at but only rocks. And from the rock water came out. They drank the water and their cattle also. They saw that rock gave them water. What a clear picture of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Rock!
Before we can really taste God’s love and experience, His power in our life we must know the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as our Rock. And that is why the psalmist says in Psa. 18:2, “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, ……he is like a man which build an house, and dig Deep, and laid the foundation on a rock and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock “ See how the Lord uses simple illustration to teach deep truths which are remarkable, simple and clear that every one of us may be able to understand what He is saying. If we are to built a house as wise persons we think of rain, storm etc. to make sure that we may be well protected from danger. There may be floods, heavy rains. All these storms of life speak of the trouble, which we have to go through in our life.
It makes no difference hoe clever, how great and hoe rich we are. We have to go through all these common trials because curse has come upon the world through sin. And that is why we as human beings has to be prepared for the curse, which came upon the earth. If you are building your house upon the solid rock foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Lord says, “Let there be any flood or rain or storm you are safe and secure”. Otherwise the house will fall and that will be great fall. Those who have not got personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ are compared to the house built upon sand. (Luke 6:49).
It will fall immediately, and the ruin of the house will be too great. That means there is a tremendous loss pain and death. To be sure and safe you have to have a definite experience with the Lord Jesus Christ as your rock and foundation. We see in 1 Cor 3:10, 11 that there is only one true foundation which will not be shaken with any storm or flood or rain. The Lord Jesus Christ has conquered every storm of life. That is why in John 10:17, 18, He told the disciples “ I lat down my life…. No man taketh it from me, I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to lay it again“. He showed his love and power by blessing and healing every one. But His power was still greater when he allowed them to scourge Him and to spit upon Him.
Once the disciples became very angry with the Samaritans, for they did not give place to the Lord Jesus Christ to sleep for one night (Luke 9:53). The Lord Jesus Christ had blessed these people on many occasions. Now He passed through Samaria on the way to Jerusalem. And He told John and James to find whether the Samaritans would permit them to stay one night there. But they refused to give shelter and hence James and John were so angry saying,” you people are quite unthankful. How many times Lord Jesus Christ has been merciful to you and healed you from your sickness; but for one night you refuse Him a shelter”. Then the disciples asked the Lord, “ Lord give us permission that we may bring down fire from heaven to burn these people”. But the Lord rebuked them saying “ I have not come to destroy but to save ”. That is why He willingly allowed them to spit upon and to scourge Him. If He wanted He Himself would have got fire from heaven for He had all power to overcome death, over any storm of life. But He willingly allowed them to do so. Why? That we may be delivered from the curse of sin. Through the very same painful suffering He wanted to give eternal blessing to the world.
The devil thought by scourging and spitting upon Him, he can be victorious; but by the very same suffering Satan was crushed. That is why though we are worst sinners yet we can become mighty people of God. The power, which He manifested in His suffering and pain, exceeds far greater than the power manifested in doing miracles. The Lord wants us to know Him, to come upon a firm and strong foundation through sufferings. If we come upon such a foundation then let there be any kind of suffering such as poverty and prolonged sickness or persecution through enemies or death, none of these can take away our joy. Rather we find our peace increasing like a river. Our peace and joy is not depending upon our possessions, wealth or position. The Lord may keep us anywhere in any situation our peace will increase.
When you go to the seaside you might see angry waves rising. Once when I was sailing from America to Japan the sea became very stormy .The ship moved only 2 miles in 25 hours. The sea waves rose to 80 feet high and the ship was reeling. You will find such angry waves on the surface only. But if you go some feet deeper you will find perfect calmness there. On the surface we see angry waves but underneath is calmness. And this could be our experience. In our hearts we can have peace of God which passeth all understanding. Peace like a river. God’s Word says in Psa.119: 165, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Similarly Isa 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” The Lord Himself says, “peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto to you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” And the very first verse He spoke to the disciples after His resurrection is, “Peace be unto you,” Paul the apostle says in 2 Thess. 3:16, “The Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.” That peace comes to us by the living savior Lord Jesus Christ. That is why He wants us to come on the rock foundation. Thus earthly trials may come to shake our faith; but can you say truthfully yes, my Lord is my Rock.” Can you stand firm in the faith for the lord? Are you feeling troubled and anxious with different kinds of fears? The lord wants you to have, by simple faith, a definite personal experience of Him as a rock.
Now the question may rise: how can you prove that He is a living Savior? We have 7 proofs in the Bible that He is a living savior.
(1) Swallowed death: the prophet promised in the year 700 B.C.,
long time before the savior’s coming, that He will come and conquer death on our behalf. He will swallow up death in victory (Isa 25:8). The same prophet also prophesied about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ death is the strongest enemy to be conquered by anyone. Nobody has ever-conquered death. It does not matter how long they live or what great things they do: when the time comes they die and never come back to life. But there is a case that has swallowed death in victory. He swallowed it as we swallow food. This is the first great proof. Death had no power over Him. He conquered it for you and me.
(2) Victory over death: the Lord Himself prophesied how on the third
day he would rise again from death (Mark 9:31). Nobody can say, I will give my life and take it back again. But Lord Jesus Christ said, no man can take my life; I have power to lay it and I have power to take it again (John 10:18). As He prophesied He rose again on the third day and appeared 10 times to different people.
(3) Empty Sepulcher: The sepulcher in which His body was laid is empty till today (Luke 24:2,3). People from all parts of the world go there to see it. The graves are full of dead bones, but this grave is lying empty till today.
(4) Proclamation by the angels: even angels came on the day of His resurrection and announced it. The angels came to announce the birth of the Lord Jesus and they came again to announce His resurrection. They said, “ He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24:5). He is a living Savior; He has conquered death for our sake.
(5) His appearances: Then He appeared to different people after He rose again. In 40 days He appeared 10 times: 5 times on the same day of resurrection to the day of His ascension. First of all He appeared to Mary Magdalene and said to her, “ Woman, Why weepest thou?” (John 20:15). Again the same morning He met other woman (Matt. 28:9). Third time He appeared to Simon Peter; fourth time to the two disciples going to Emmaus; then to the disciples in the upper room when the doors and windows were closed. Afterwards He appeared to the 500 disciples (I Cor 15:6); then for Thomas Sake; then He appeared to other disciples at the lake of Tiberius (John 21:4). Tenth time He appeared at Bethany when He ascended to Heaven (Luke 24:51).
(6) His appearance after ascension: then He appeared to Stephen when he was being stoned; again to Saul on the road to Damascus when the lord said to him. “Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou me?” And Saul asked. “ Who art thou, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “ I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (acts 9:4,5).
(7) The Living Savior: The Lord tells to John in Rev.1: 18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” The same living savoir wants to come into your heart. That is why He rose again. He wants that we may be with Him for Eternity, with immortal body. Let there be any hardship, any affliction, any pain, or any suffering you will have peace in your heart. Then you will say He is my Rock. My salvation; He governs me, He teaches me. In all circumstances I find peace in my heart. That is how He wants to become living Rock in you. He died in your stead to take away your sins and punishment. He knew no sin. He has all power: power over death, sickness, and devils and over the whole creation. Yet He died on the cross. He gave Himself willingly that the judgment and condemnation, which we could not bear. He bore on our behalf. Now He is knocking at the door of your heart to come into you. And the same power by which He rose again helps is to conquer all the storms of our life whenever you may be, you will find His peace in your heart. He will never leave you. Do you want such an experience? Please leave all fears of life and rest on the Savior, the living Rock. We thank God we have this experience too. May our Lord give you that experience?