by Charles Sibthorpe
We live about 5 miles from “The Rock of Ages” which is situated in Burrington Coombe, Somerset. This is where, in 1763, Rev Augustus Toplady sheltered with his horse, whilst caught in a violent storm. When the crisis had passed, and he was safe and dry back at home in Blagdon, he penned one of the best loved and most famous hymns in the English language.
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood ,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save me from its guilt and power.”
This is a favourite place to take friends; last week we had Harry and Doreen Westcott, plus four of their family staying with us and once again we drove to the Rock of Ages, stood in the cleft of the rock, took some photos, and reminded ourselves of the amazing truths of that hymn.
That set me thinking about our need for a rock in these times of uncertainty. Psalm 61:3 says, “I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Again in Psalm 40:2 it says, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
This morning I read in Psalm 62:1, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress I will never be shaken.”
Jesus spoke about our lives being founded on the rock of his word, so that the storms cannot undermine us and knock us down. Matthew 7:24-25 says, “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 rains came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat upon against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock.”
After reading through these scriptures I found myself singing, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sound.”
Keep your feet on the Rock today.
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