Maine’s coast and islands are hedged and braced by barnacled cliffs and sharply chiseled rocks hewed by glaciers, storms, and roaring seas. These ancient fortifications continue to protect Maine’s edges and are reminders of how the “Ancient of Days” protects and preserves the souls of His people.
The prophet Samuel understood that. He proclaimed, “The Lord lives and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation” (2Samuel 22:47). Realizing God’s unwavering presence, the Psalmist sang: “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”(Psalm 62:6)
A very old but more recent psalm, “Rock of Ages,” is still sung in many church worship services. The original lyrics which were composed in 1775 and published in 1776 need no modernization although some contemporary song writers have added a few lyrical additions. Some of its Biblical truths are rawly stated but stunningly beautiful in content. They express the wonders of God’s steadfast, unbreakable love displayed through Christ’s redemptive work which protects all who turn to him in faith.
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 and cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Hiding in the wonders of God’s mercy and being firmly held in His steadfast love are deeply profound thoughts. The phrase “Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power” is a concise statement of the Gospel, of the power of belief in Christ, of being protected and freed from sin’s condemning shame and condemnation. Scripture confirms that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” and that those of faith “should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 8:1) (Romans 6:6-7). A contemporary arrangement of “Amazing Grace” asserts this wonderful truth:
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace
Christian hope (or confident faith) is totally reliant on God’s steadfast mercy and grace and Christ’s love : “Not the labor of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law’s demands…” “Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling.” Scripture asserts salvation is obtained through faith alone: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us (Titus 3:5).” “By grace are you saved through faith. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 3:8-9)”
Those of faith are wrapped tightly and eternally in Christ’s righteousness and deeply immersed in God’s love. Christ’s resurrection took the sting out of death and secured eternal life for those who accept the free gift of salvation. His righteousness paid for humanity’s unrighteousness when he shed his blood and took the wrathful punishment required for our unholiness.“When mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to world’s unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”
If Christ is sufficient to save and guide us through this life and into the next, we can hold tightly to the truth conveyed in yet another old hymn: “On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand” (1834 Edward Mote). In His grace, God completely protects the eternal destiny of trusting souls. (John 3:16). Fanny Crosby expressed it this way in another old hymn: “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock/ He hideth my life in the depths of His love/And covers me there with His hand/And covers me there with His hand” (1890, Fanny Crosby)
Even today, we can benefit from listening to an Old Testament prophet. Jeremiah conveyed God’s wise counsel to Israel: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’ “ (Jeremiah 6:16).That advice and assurance is as rock solid and important today as it was to ancient Israel because God’s redemptive way is always contemporary.
Sweet Words from Maine 