Monday, August 3, 2020

Pastor's Pondering, August 3, 2020

On Christ We Stand
Morris Cerullo, a well-known American Pentecostal evangelist, writer, world traveler and television host, recently passed in July 2020. He traveled worldwide for his ministry.  He once shared that God told him, "Son, Tell my people that everything that can be shaken will be shaken..."  With the advent of the COVID-19 virus nothing seems invulnerable. Even venerable institutions such as universities, governmental entities, business empires, and entertainment corporations all seemed helpless and trembling before the merciless pandemic.  All of the overwhelming wonder of the modern day seems underwhelming as the days pass by in 2020.

Yet the Bible says that our focus should not be on the temporary things that we can see but on the eternal unseen things (2 Corinthians 4:18). Things are changing in ways that seem uncomfortable, but Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, day and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  He never changes. But in the world, everything changes.  History changes because it was written by those who won the wars.  People change based on their circumstances. Trials and tribulations can shake us to our core.  

The Bible says that there are more shakings coming upon the earth (Luke 21:26). Those things that are not based on the true foundation in Him will not stand firmly.  We have to make the decision that we will look only to the unshakeable Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  The classic song by Robert Critchley, entitled “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” expresses this idea.  Some of the lyrics are, “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. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Christ wants to remind us that our job, our health, our family and friends are temporary, but He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will stay with us beyond the grave.  The housing market may crash, the banking industry may deteriorate while every other thing that is dear to us may vanish.  However,  Jesus shared that He is preparing a place for us so that we can always be with Him (John 14:2).  It is true that everything that can be shaken will be shaken, but we must know that we can always depend on Christ, our solid Rock (Psalm 18:2).

2 Corinthians 4:18 
New International Version
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 13:8
New International Version
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Luke 21:26
New International Version
26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

Hebrews 12:2
New King James Version
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 14:2
New International Version
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Psalm 18:2
New International Version
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.




1 comment:

Debbie said...

Thank you for that timely message, it was such a blessing to me.
God bless you!!!!!