Sheltered Within the Rock

A large waterfall is a magnificent thing—the roar of all that water plummeting into the pool, the spray sent up into the air to chill tourists and refresh hikers, the lush greenery clinging to little crevices in the rocky outcroppings surrounding the cascade.

Growing up, we visited the falls in the Columbia River Gorge many times, and I still enjoy going there, but I have found myself paying little attention to the falls themselves, having seen them so many times over the years.

I was at Multnomah Falls recently, and as I stood there on the bridge, surrounded by tourists taking selfies and exclaiming over how wet it was by the falls, I took a few moments to really look at the waterfall. And do you know what I noticed? There is a cleft in the rock face behind the water. It must have been there at least as long as I’ve been visiting the falls, but I had never really noticed it before.

But that day, as I stood and really looked for the first time at that horizontal crack in the cliff, my imagination began to build a picture. I thought of a bird’s nest inside that dark, damp space, and a mother bird sitting placidly atop her eggs, feathers fluffed against the chill from the icy cascade thundering just outside.

That is what peace looks like in the Christian life. It doesn’t mean that everything around us is calm or peaceful, but it does mean that we are safe within our Rock, sheltered by God’s presence and protected by His love. That bird could not survive within the torrent of water, but sheltered within the rock, it could thrive and be fruitful.

It’s the same with you and me. We cannot survive, cannot live as Christians within the torrent of the world, but within the shelter of the Holy Spirit’s presence, we can not only survive, but thrive and bear much fruit. Jesus said, 

“I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me, ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

It can be easy to get into the mode of thinking we just need to try harder, or do better in the Christian life, but that is like a bird trying to build a nest by poking sticks into the waters of a waterfall, while ignoring the sheltered place on which it stands.

In Christ, we have all we need to live victorious lives as Christians. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us,

“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us unto glory and virtue.”

The reason the Christian life sometimes seems overwhelmingly hard is because we were never meant to do it alone. We are to press toward the mark, (Philippians. 3:14) but in the power of God, which He freely makes available to us, if only we will turn to Him.

So, dear Reader, does life in Christ feel heavy today? Does the world, the devil, or your own flesh feel like a raging torrent that sweeps away any good thing you do? Look down, see the Rock on which you stand, and build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and the victory which He has already won on your behalf.

Victory is already there, waiting for you as you walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, by His inexhaustible power!

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” 

Jude 1:24-25