Did you ever try to walk on an icy sidewalk?  You search for a dry spot, or one that has been sanded.  If not, maybe it’s one foot down, the next one slips.  You’re lucky you if catch your balance.  If not, you’re soon on your backside. 

I thought of this unsteadiness and insecurity, when I was looking at the hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.”   The chorus begins with “On Christ the solid Rock, I stand.”  Ok, so an icy walkway is not sinking sand, but it is surely not a secure place to be.  I much prefer a solid walkway where each foot lands on solid ground. 

When we lose traction in life, we stumble.  We slip and slide.  But Jesus doesn’t want us to flail, he offers a more stable solution.  Jesus called it building our houses on solid rock, on Him.

The hymn is an old one, written by Edward Mote, circa 1834.  Maybe you’re familiar with it too.  “On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.”  Are you singing yet?

It may be an old hymn, but popular worship bands are diving back into this message.  The Vertical Worship Band performed their version, “The Rock Won’t Move,” about 10 years ago.  It may not be your favorite musical style but find reassurance in the fact that the message continues, whether it is 1834 or 2024.   Jesus is our Rock, a rock of unconditional love.

Judy