Miry Clay or Rock - The Christian Online Magazine

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"LIFE WITH CHRIST IS AN ENDLESS HOPE; WITHOUT HIM A HOPELESS END." - Unknown

How would you classify your life today - an ENDLESS HOPE or a HOPELESS END? It all depends on whether or not Christ is at the center of your life.

In Psalm 40:1-2 David cried out -

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."

There are two expressions or two places which are contrasted in these verses - the "MIRY CLAY" and the "ROCK."

The "MIRY CLAY" represents the place where there is no firm footing or no rock on which to stand.

Psalm 69:2 refers to it as the "deep mire, where there is no standing."

Psalm 40:2 - It is mire found in a deep place or at the bottom of a pit - "a horrible pit."

It is a pit of noise where nothing is heard but the howlings of evil beasts or the hollow sounds of the wind.

It is a pit, a prison, and a dungeon filled with horrors.

It is a lake of misery - a deep and horrid cavern where there is no hope of ever being rescued.

My Christian Friend, are you familiar with such a place?

Perhaps your calamities and troubles have caused you to feel like you are in a "horrible pit" where it seems like all you can hear are the taunting cries of UNBELIEF and FEAR. All you seem to be able to hear are the cries of the evil spirits, warring against your FAITH, continuously badgering you with questions such as - "Where is your God?" and "If God is so good, then why did this or that happen in your life?"

Perhaps you feel as though you are in a prison or the Dungeon of Despair where there seems to be no hope of ever being rescued. Or you might even feel like a drowning man in the lake of misery.

If so, then look to the Word of God for direction and guidance.

David also found himself in such a place. What did he do?

Psalm 40:1 tells that he "waited patiently for the LORD."

What did the Lord do?

He inclined unto David, and "heard his cry." It would behoove us to do the same.

Oftentimes in our waiting upon the Lord for His help and intervention, He is working on us in such a way whereby Christ is becoming the sole confidence or sure footing on which we stand. Many times tests or trials are sent our way to reveal to us that our hope and trust actually is not in Christ alone. They are sent to prove and examine the foundation on which we are standing.

Are we depending and relying on God and His Promises? Or are we depending on ourselves, another man, our job, our bank account, our retirement fund, our church, or even the government?

If that be the case, oftentimes we find ourselves in a horrible pit, slipping and sliding on MIRY CLAY with a HOPELESS END because we left God out of a portion of our lives. We took over the reins and began to once again run our lives. We got behind the wheel and began to drive the "car" of our life.

Is it any wonder that we are in the mess that we are in - a "horrible pit" - the MIRY CLAY - a HOPELESS END?

God offers us an ENDLESS HOPE. He wants to plant our feet on the ROCK - the Rock Christ Jesus. He desires that our lives be built upon the foundation of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ -

1 Corinthians 3:11 - "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

2 Timothy 2:19 tells us that this foundation - the "Foundation of God" - stands sure. It is steady, firm, and permanent.

Isaiah 28:16 refers to it as a "stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation..."

The storms and tempests of calamity cannot shake or sweep away anyone who is standing on this stable ground. It is a "sure foundation."

Edward Mote was the son of poor innkeepers in London, England, in the 18th century. In growing up, he knew nothing about God or the Bible. At the age of 16, however, he was gloriously saved. After a period of time, he became the minister of a Baptist Chapel in Horsham, Sussex, England. During this time he wrote 150 hymns - one of which was the well known and greatly loved hymn - "The Solid Rock" -

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;

In ev'ry high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found,

Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND -

ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND;

ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND."

Brethren, where do you find yourselves today - on "MIRY CLAY" and "sinking sand" or on the "ROCK"?

Perhaps you need to examine the foundation of your life and actions. Is everything that you say and do based on the "sure foundation" of Christ and His Holy Word?

Psalm 40:2 - The Lord Jesus will set your feet upon the ROCK - Himself - and establish your goings. He will enable you to walk on solid ground.

God understands the uncertainties that surround us. He knows what kind of slippery ground our society is on at this time. Therefore, He wants to raise us up as a people who will stand solidly and securely amidst the sliding uncertainties of the world in which we live.

In making decisions, developing our plans, building our lives, and working out our problems, we must do as David did - Wait patiently upon the Lord. It is in Christ alone that we will find true stability. All other ground is "sinking sand."

The decision is ours. We can trust in ourselves or other resources and end up in a "Horrible pit", in "MIRY CLAY", or "sinking sand" with a HOPELESS END. Or we can place all of our hope, trust, and confidence in Christ Jesus - "THE SOLID ROCK" - a "tried stone", a "sure foundation" - and enjoy an ENDLESS HOPE.

Is your Christian life stable or unstable? It all depends on whether or not the Lord Jesus is the center of your life.

Stability in an unstable world? Is it possible?

Indeed it is - if we will be sure to lay down Christ as our "sure foundation" for everything that we do in life.

Psalm 69:2 - Then and only then will we be delivered from the "MIRY CLAY" - the "deep mire, where there is no standing."