JESUS IS THE ROCK

The rocks of life that we drag around can become so heavy that we lose our spiritual joy. What rocks need moving in your soul? Doubt that Jesus can bring blessings out of your problems? Disbelief in His promises, causing you to place your trust in other things such as your own strength or intelligence or feelings, in doctors, drugs, or alcohol? Why not place your heavy rocks at the cross and let God deal with them? With His help, you can move a mountain of rocks. The Bible says so.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair

Move That Rock!

When I was young and my dad farmed, every summer my sister and I had to help pick rocks. It seemed like our land grew more rocks than crops. How we hated that job. We always ended up with sunburn, broken fingernails, sore backs, and a sore attitude.

Rock-picking is a necessary evil for anyone who works the soil. Farmers can’t afford the time and expense of repairing or replacing plows, cultivators, and harvest machines that have been damaged by a rock. Some field rocks are so big that it’s easier to simply plow around them. Like big elephants, they can’t be moved without the help of special machinery.

The rock that was rolled in front of Jesus’ tomb was huge, too. If anyone had tried to roll it away, it couldn’t have been done because tombs back then were lower in elevation than the land in front of the entrance. When the disciples witnessed Jesus’ death and burial, they were devastated. They couldn’t see beyond the rock that seemed so immovable. No good could possibly come out of such a hopeless situation. For them, it spelled the end of three glorious years with Jesus, their friend. Only by the supernatural power of God could it have been—and was—moved.

But God had something else in mind, something so astounding, they could hardly believe it. His burial site was exposed and found empty. Now they understood His promise that after three days He would rise from the dead. Such news and proof should bring joy to His followers today, too.

Sometimes, however, we tend to keep Jesus behind the seemingly-immovable rock. Sometimes, when death or illness threatens, we find it hard to believe new life can come from it. Sometimes it seems impossible to see beyond the rock of defeat or rejection, anger or hurt feelings. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Just as Jesus’ disciples were called to fulfill His purpose, we too are called. In obedience and love, we can know with certainty that however big the rocks seem in our lives, God will help us move them. And something even better will come from the moving.

Lord, give us the strength, wisdom, and will to move the rocks that prevent us from loving You and fulfilling Your purpose in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.