In the morally and philosophically squishy world in which we live, it is hard to find good footing. We are always saddened, and frankly befuddled, when we see people who are overwhelmed with the pressures of life drop their heads and look at their own feet. We see this in individual lives and in the lives of whole Protestant denominations. When decisions are made just to please people, we call that liberalism. When we look to strength in numbers or our own personal abilities, we call that weakness and failure. When change means taking your eyes off of sound doctrine, we call that unorthodoxy. All will fail.
In the political arena, some people are apt to think that hope rests in change. In many cases, the church has adopted this same mantra-change will bring security. This is true only if that change is humble repentance, but it is false if change only means following another human solution. It is false if all we are looking for is the lowest common denominator that will please a majority. Real change comes by lifting our eyes to a higher power.
Many of the problems we face are just simply overwhelming for us. When we watch people in Haiti digging through fallen concrete with their bare hands to see if there are any survivors under the rubble, we are vividly reminded of the weakness of man and the power of God. How many seconds did it take to level a city of millions of people? Many people's lives are no different from the destruction in Haiti-they are overwhelmed by the scope of the problem in light of their own abilities. Human depravity digs deep holes. And unrepentant man keeps digging.
It is pitiful when we see men put their trust in themselves or anything beneath themselves. In that beautiful psalm of David, Psalm 61, he prays to his God, "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Yes, "higher than I am as a king!" This is precisely what our daily prayers should plead for-for God to lead us
to Himself. Take time in your daily devotions to read Deuteronomy 32 which defined Israel's falling away from the Rock, who was God (Deut. 32:4). Israel looked to human solutions and heathen people who surrounded them as rock-solid helpers, but God declares, "their rock is not like our Rock!" (Deut. 32:31). Man's rocks are idols. The Old Testament church tried them all. Once in trouble, God will mock His people and say, "Where are their gods, the rock in which they sought refuge?" (Deut. 32:37) The answer: these idols don't exist.
The New Testament reveals that this "rock" is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). This is the only foundation that will remain in the storms of God's just judgment (Matt. 7:24-27). John the Baptist had it absolutely right when he said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn. 3:30). Yes, he was rejected by the builders, but God declared Him to be the chief cornerstone. A marvelous thing. Yet Jesus warns, "Whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder" (Matt. 21:44).
Whether overwhelmed in our personal struggles of life or in the work of the church, there must be a return to this prayer to God-"Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Higher by infinity! That Rock does not change. That Rock is over us and undergirds us. That rock overshadows us from the storm. That Rock gives greater strength and higher purpose to life.
The words of the Psalmist come to mind especially as the various Classes of the RCUS prepare to meet very soon for their annual assessment and work. Yes, the obstacles and the work are sometimes overwhelming to us. Human weakness in this is also overwhelming. Progress is often underwhelming. This is a time to take our eyes off of ourselves and look for help to what is higher by far-our sovereign God. It is a time to determine that the only decisions of the church which are good are those which honor God and are dependent on Him. This is likewise true of all the troubles of our lives-lead us to look to Jesus Christ our Lord and King.
In Psalm 61 David is praying as a king who needs help in time of trouble. Our lives may feel just like David's at times-overwhelmed. Oh, for the humility that would lead God's people to have this singular petition, "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." May God reveal Himself to us and all the world as that high Rock.
