What is your bedrock?

Scriptures for today include Psalm 90, Isaiah 1:24-31, and Luke 11:29-32. I coined the title “What is your bedrock?” after I wrestled with a handful of themes. For example, I could have easily chosen “What is your anchor?” or “what keeps you going?” But I hope after you read this you will agree that the real issue is what we hold onto, especially when other things in our life become difficult or unpleasant. In other words, each of us need to ask ourselves the question: what really matters to us in this life? Some might say their family, their lifework, their passion, or even their cars, bank account, tools or possessions. So how would you answer the question?

If you profess to believe in God, you know the answer. You know in your heart that something deeper gives us hope for enduring our trials today and trusting that there will be a tomorrow. That something giving us hope is our faith in God.

Isaiah tells us that when sin is prominent in our lives we look more like an enemy to God’s purposes in the world. But just when we deserve wrath and punishment for preferring our own wants over faithful service, God sees us as the clean metal we could be. Since we just celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday and took note of some things we have to be thankful for, let us be thankful that God’s faithfulness remains as solid as bedrock. Bedrock for geologists is the solid rock below the sandy ground and what you anchor your buildings to so they won’t fall or collapse.

We become God’s enemies whenever we put other things ahead of caring for others. We become rusty and tarnished metal whenever we succumb to concerns for wealth, possessions and security in today’s world. Those temporary things can never be bedrock. Let us be Advent people who wait and trust that our bedrock remains faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else. Jesus promised to be the way, the truth, and the life and let us hear that promise as his being the forever bedrock of our lives. May you trust that Jesus is coming again to make us all bright new metal and righteous in God’s sight. Let God’s love occupy your thinking and remind yourself daily that God loves you and hopes for you to turn your life around. Faith is the bedrock that won’t leave you when the other things fail to support you and can’t comfort you. My friends Jesus revealed his being the true bedrock forever and ever when he died and rose again for each of us.

Shalom,
Pastor Jim Paulson