Christ Our Solid Rock
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
The Solid Rock is a well-known hymn written by Edward Mote. Edward Mote’s parents were innkeepers and knew nothing about God. While working as an apprentice cabinetmaker, he was invited to an evangelistic meeting in the slums of London. The message profoundly impacted Mote. He received Christ as his Saviour and his life changed radically. He developed an interest in writing hymns. On his way to work one morning, he was thinking about God’s faithfulness. As he was pondering this, the words to the hymn’s refrain came to mind. “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.” By the end of the day, he had written four stanzas. Shortly after writing the hymn, he was asked to visit a friend’s wife, who was seriously ill, to minister to her, read the Word, sing a hymn, and pray. On the day he visited her, he couldn’t find his hymn book, so he sang the hymn he had just written. The words greatly encouraged her, and she asked for a copy.
These are some of the words that encouraged her and gave her unwavering hope in her Saviour:
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
These words speak of a hope we can only find in Jesus. Jesus, who shed His blood for us on the cross of Calvary. Whose blood has made us righteous (right in God’s eyes).
Name Above All Names
When we place our hope in Jesus, not in ourselves or the things of this world, we know that this hope in Jesus and His righteousness will not disappoint us because He has filled our hearts with His love (Romans 5:5). We hope in His faithful promises, which the psalmist says are our armour and protection (Psalm 91:4–5) when we are afraid. We hope in His peace, which transcends all understanding when we are worried and anxious (Philippians 4:7). We hope in Him because we know that nothing can separate us from His love when we feel alone and discouraged (Romans 8:38-39). We hope in His unfailing, unshakeable love for us when the ground beneath our feet feels like sinking sand (Isaiah 54:10).
We do not build our trust and our hope on “the sweetest frame.” The ‘frame’ of others, or the ‘frame’ of this world, that may seem enticing. We place our hope wholly, completely and without wavering in Jesus. In His name that is above all names. We place our hope in our King of kings and Lord of Lords.
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16 (NIV)
Reflection:
Will you put your hope in Christ, our solid rock alone?
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, that You have made me righteous through Your shed blood on the cross. Help me build my hope on You and Your unfailing and unshakeable love for me. Help me not to hope in people and things that will disappoint. Lord, I trust in Your name, which is above all names. In Jesus’ name, amen.
