Pastors Corner: Standing firm on God, our rock!

As long as we live in this world we will face challenges on a regular basis. The key to living a victorious life is staying focused on the one stable thing in our lives. That one stable thing is God. David declared this in the Psalms many times. One example is Psalm 62:2 Only God is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold! I won’t be shaken anymore.(CEB) As we look at this Psalm, we see that David has come to an understanding that he has victory and stability in his life when he puts his trust and confidence in the Lord God Almighty. He declares that God only is his rock, God only is his salvation and God only is his stronghold. David has learned that when he remains anchored in God, his life becomes stable, unshakable!

Three basic principles of daily living are stated here. First, David says: “Only God is my Rock.” David faced many different challenges in his life. Through those challenges he learned that God was the one person or thing that was consistently consistent. God was the “rock,” the foundation, the virtual source of his life. Putting his trust in any other thing would bring only temporary results.

Second, David declares that God only is his salvation. When we look at the salvation of God, we see that it involves three different aspects of our lives. 2 Corinthians 1:10 explains it quite well: “who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.” Paul is explaining to the believers that salvation is a finished work through Christ Jesus. First, he uses the past tense, “who delivered us from so great a death.” Christ died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day 2,000 years ago to redeem us from the penalty of sin which is eternal separation from God in hell. When we invite Jesus Christ into our hearts to be our personal savior, we receive the free gift of eternal life. Second, Paul says that God does daily, present tense, deliver us from the power of sin in our daily walk. Holy Spirit is present in our lives to guide and direct us and be our comforter/counselor each moment of our lives. We can walk in freedom from the sin of this world when we remember that God only is the one who saves us out of daily situations. Thirdly, Paul says we can trust that one day, future tense, God will deliver us, spirit, soul and body from the presence of sin. We will be completely delivered from the presence of sin when we go home to be with Jesus. This is the completion of our salvation, the final step.

The third thing David says about God in Psalm 62:2 is that He (God) only is his stronghold. The Hebrew word here refers to a place of safety, a high tower, a fortress, something that cannot be taken by the enemy. That is exactly what our God is to us! He is our place of safety. When we put these three principles to work in our lives we become stable, immovable and strong in the Lord. May you be blessed as you look to God in every situation.

Earlier I mentioned that David wrote about our God being the only stable thing in our lives in many places in the Old Testament. I have added some additional scriptures for you to read that will encourage you to put all your trust and hope in God. Psalm 18:31 For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?

Psalm 146:3 NIV Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

Psalm 62:5-7 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Brian Barrows

Pastor, Abundant Life Ministries