Marsden Rock is an imposing sea stack of magnesium limestone which lies approx 100 yards off the mainland of South Shields in the North of England. It was always an awesome sight to behold and as I grew up in one of the nearby towns I used to love spending time there at the beach. It almost seemed that nothing would be able to knock this great rock down.
Jesus the Rock of Our Faith
Marsden Rock has been standing for over 200 years although quite different today from the time in 1830 that a flight of steps was constructed up the side of the rock. It was climbed by that method many times and in 1903 several choirs performed a choral service on top of the rock. In 1911 a huge section of the rock collapsed and it was feared the entire rock would fall into the sea.
In 1996 the top section of the arch of the Rock collapsed splitting the rock into two and in 1997 it was deemed the smaller stack was unstable so on 26th March a controlled explosion reduced, in a matter of seconds, the small stack into a pile of rubble. The remainder of the rock still stands today although over time it will continue to erode and will perhaps one day be claimed by the sea.
The Rock of Gibraltar - a peninsula rock fortress at the western exit from the Mediterranean. It is connected with the Spanish mainland by a sandy flat, less than 10 ft above sea level.
The rock rises abruptly to 1,356 ft and runs a little west of south for two and a half miles. What an impressive Rock this is too. I visited Gibraltar when I was on holiday in Spain quite a number of years ago and to think that I was walking around on a piece of rock was amazing and people lived on it too.
As I read my bible I came across the following verses:
2 Sam 22:2-3 And he said "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. vs 31 - As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock save our God? vs 47 - The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.Psalm 31:3 - For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy names sake lead me and guide me.
Psalm 71:3 - Be thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress
Psalm 18:2 - The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer: my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation. vs 31 - For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? vs 46 - The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
1 Cor 10: 4 - And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
When something is said more than once in the Bible then we can be sure God wants us to LISTEN!
Marsden Rock and the Rock of Gibraltar may be impressive sights, they may be eroding, may, by man's hand, be made to topple and fall but of one thing I am sure, my Saviour Jesus Christ, is the one sure Rock which will never fall, or erode.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the very Rock on which the church is built, the very foundation of our faith. We need never fear that this Rock will fall, we need only put our trust in Him. He alone is the Rock which will stand forever.
Jesus, The Rock of Our Faith
What Marsden Rock used to look like. |
"He alone is the Rock which will stand forever."
ReplyDeleteAmen! Thanks for sharing this.