Christ, the Solid Rock

Submitted by David Miller

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
Romans 8:18

It doesn’t take long to become fearful and hopeless looking at the current state of the world. Wars, economic collapse, terrorism – it seems to be unending. Considering it all, Paul’s statement about current suffering paling when compared to God’s glory seems almost, well, naïve. Counter intuitive? Absolutely. Certainly, this is counter cultural when held up to world headlines today.  So, what do we do with such a radical statement by Paul?

Let me start by saying, I believe with all my heart that the Gospel is the greatest message of hope anyone could ever encounter. To understand the hope of the Gospel, we must look beyond our current life and circumstance. This requires viewing life through the lens of faith. And Paul’s statement of hope requires faith.  It requires us to look to the one in whom we place our hope.  Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) 2 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. 

So, here is the question: Where do you place your hope? When the sufferings and craziness of this world appear too much, where do we find hope? If our hope is in this life, we will find ourselves stuck in hopelessness and despair. If our hope is in this life, we find ourselves constantly longing for some dramatic change that fixes all the despairing pot holes in our life.  If our hope is in this life, we become vulnerable to the whims of the society as it defines hope for us. 

But, if our hope is in the One who is eternal, if our hope is in the One who is coming to make all things new, we can confidently say in any circumstance: “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later!”  We can say with confidence that:

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;

all other ground is sinking sand.

Life’s struggles invite us to discover where we place our hope. What about you? Where is your hope? No matter how miserable present circumstances appear, you really can believe the best is yet to come. Jesus Christ offers you this hope. You just have to believe it, stand on it, and embrace it.