An Everlasting Rock

The northern end of Filey Bay is nicely protected by the headland of Carr Naze and The Brigg. Over the centuries much of the headland has been worn away so that it is now possible to stand on what remains of the site of the Roman lookout and look down at the boiling waves on one side…

… and at the calm of the bay on the other side.

Not only is the headland narrower now but it is shorter too. Much of it has disappeared under the waves altogether, with the harder rocks of The Brigg only visible at low tide.

Carr Naze seems so firm, so durable, yet gradually it is wearing away. Watching the ceaseless pounding of the waves on the rocks of The Brigg I was reminded – by contrast – of the One who is an everlasting rock, the Rock of Ages.

An everlasting rock. What does that make you think of? A refuge, perhaps.

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

And a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever,

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalm 61:1-4 

Or a shelter.

Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,

And princes will rule in justice.

A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,

And a cover from the tempest,

As rivers of water in a dry place,

As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

Isaiah 32:1-2

Most of all, of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:1-5)

So there is warning, as well as blessing, as the Apostle Peter also points out: 

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him willby no means be put to shame.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.” (1 Peter 2:4-8a)

Isn’t there also something wonderfully tender and gracious in these words of Jehovah to Moses?

Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by...” (Exodus 33:21,22)

No wonder Moses could say:

For I proclaim the name of Jehovah:

Ascribe greatness to our God.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;

For all His ways are justice,

A God of truth and without injustice;

Righteous and upright is He.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4

But I’ll give the last word to David:

The Lord lives!

Blessed be my Rock!

Let God be exalted,

The Rock of my salvation!

2 Samuel 22:47

O Lamb of God, still keep us

Close to Thy piercèd side;

‘Tis only there in safety

And peace we can abide;

With foes and snares around us,

And lusts and fears within,

The grace that sought and found us

Alone can keep us clean.

‘Tis only in Thee hiding

We feel ourselves secure;

Only in Thee abiding

The conflict can endure;

Thine arm the vict’ry gaineth

O’er every hateful foe;

Thy love our hearts sustaineth

In all their cares and woe.

Soon shall our eyes behold Thee

With rapture, face to face;

And, resting there in glory,

We’ll sing Thy power and grace;

Thy beauty, Lord, and glory,

The wonders of Thy love,

Shall be the endless story

Of all Thy saints above.

J G Deck