THE ROCK OF AGES

The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:1-2 NIV).

Recently, I was reading Elmer L. Towns’ book, My Father’s Names, which I highly recommend. He relays an experience he had as a young college student, when he was asked to lead praise and worship for a revival. However, he was unprepared for that evening’s unexpected turn of events.

Thunder boomed and lightening flashed as the wind and rain blew with great force, battering the little, white framed church. To calm the nervous crowd, Towns began telling the amazing story of God’s provision for Augustus Toplady, who without any light to guide him, was caught outside in a dangerous storm.

It was in the late 1700s and Toplady was traveling along a gorge in England when he was suddenly overcome by a battering storm. Fearful that he could be stranded in the cold rain and possibly die from exposure, he looked for a place of safely. A brilliant flash of lightening revealed a massive rock ahead. Toplady knew he would find protection from the rain on the leeward side of the rock, but when he got there, he found that the huge boulder had been split by the lightning bolt. Crawling into the cleft of the rock, he was protected from both the wind and rain. It was as though the rock had been split just for him. 

Toplady equated this event with a spiritual application: “Jesus is the Rock—firm, strong, and protective. Yet Jesus was crucified for me, and a spear split open His side. He was the Rock cleft (split, gashed) for me.” As the storm passed, Toplady wrote four stanzas of which the following is the first stanza of the infamous hymnal, “Rock of Ages.” 

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in Thee.”

Let the water and the blood,

From thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.”

Towns recounts that even though the church lights did not come back on until after the revival ended, many people had stayed and surrendered their hearts to Christ on that long and stormy night. They understood that only in Jesus, could they find refuge from the storm they were experiencing and from the storms of life that come to challenge us.

We can count on the Lord when life’s storms come, whether they be weather-related or simply those things that challenge us and our faith. For “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Do we believe this? Do the things of life diminish our faith and cause us to doubt and question God? His Word encourages us to look to Him and His strength and seek His face always (I Chronicles 16:11).

We find in James 4:8 that if we come near to God, He will come near to us. And how do we come near to Him?  The answer is revealed through this scripture in which God calls us not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, we are to present our requests to Him. He then promises that His peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

It was in the storm that Toplady recognized the goodness and provision of God. I have walked through many of life’s storms and have asked God the “why” question. We all have been in that place of questioning. But over the years, I have learned that even in the darkest and most unsettling trial, God AWAYS provides and reveals His amazing grace and love.

Every trial has been a learning experience and has afforded me the opportunity to draw closer to God. When everything is going smoothly, it is easy to become more involved in the world and less involved with Him. That is why God strongly warns us not to love the world or anything in the world. If we love the world, the love for the Father is not in us (I John 2:15). For Jesus chose us out of the world. That is why the world hates those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and choose to walk out their faith in Him (John 15:19).

What storms are you battling? Know that you are not alone. God is with you in every storm and every difficulty. He will provide, teach, and guide—if you trust Him.

The disciples got caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. Fearful, they woke Jesus, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters. The storm subsided, and all was calm. Then He asked, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:23-25). 

I believe that God allows us to go through life’s difficulties to reveal our level of faith. Jesus revealed the weakness of the disciples’ faith. Even though they had seen Jesus perform amazing miracles, they still struggled with placing their faith completely in Him. Their focus was directed on the storm and not on Jesus and what He had daily taught them.

We see that same example with Peter. Jesus called him out of the boat and as he obeyed, he walked on the water towards Jesus. But as soon as the waves began to increase in height and intensity, he turned his eyes away from Jesus, and focusing on the wind and waves, he began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus lifted Peter out of the storm. 

Do world events distract and turn your attention away from God, or do they draw you closer to Him? Are you focusing on the storm, or are you keeping your eyes on the Lord? Like the disciples, do you trust more in what you see than what is true in God’s Word? Do you view God as your loving Father who desires only the very best for you? Do you trust that when you call out to Him, He will lift you out of the storm?

As you celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Easter Sunday, meditate on His love that is so great for you and for me, that He willingly sacrificed Himself so that we could have eternal life and be overcomers while on this earth. He said, “I am the first and the last and the living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). Like Augustus Toplady, may we never forget that our Lord, the risen King, is the Rock of Ages cleft for us.

PRAYER: FATHER, I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue all who call upon His name so that they may be saved from eternal separation from You. Thank you for being with me in every storm and difficulty. As I celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection, help me to keep my eyes on Your goodness and not on those things that can so easily distract and challenge my faith. May I always trust and cherish the risen Lord, the Rock of Ages, cleft for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.