Worship: Security

Foundations

Sometimes how things seem to be is not how things really are.

Our daily perspective is earthbound and wrapped in time—swiftly passing ticks on a clock hidden somewhere beyond our reach. We grasp for the good moments but often they pass away before we can lock them in safely our hearts. Our memories, good and bad, represent a tiny fraction of the days we have lived and the moments through which we passed. But the beautiful moments we capture are like jewels in our mind, shining, sparkling, with only the slightest amount of light. The horrid moments of our history lurk in the shadows of memory, obstacles we trip over in the dreams of the night.

Along the way, we have been opposed by some and assisted by many. Calling these two rolls brings praise and repentance.

“Lord thank you for____________.”

“Lord help me forgive__________.”

Our story continues, a new chapter with the rising of every sun and the going down of the same.

Sometimes from this earthbound perspective, it seems the very foundations of life are trembling and about to fall. The words of the Psalmist:

“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The poet wants to flee like a bird to the mountain. No longer earthbound, we seek a higher place of safety, far from the trembling foundations that threaten to collapse beneath us.

What is the Lord’s answer to this heart-cry?

Remembrance.

Not the little library of stories that have happened to us, the bright jewels that cheer us and dark obstacles that hinder us. No we must call to mind a much bigger story—the Story of God!

• He is the Creator of all things!
• He is the lover of all His Creation!
• He rules in Heaven and bends all the hosts of Heaven to our rescue and to our safety.

The foundations are safe. No one can pull down what God has ordained to stand.

And that includes us.

Remember Who God Is!

Scripture:
Psalm 11 
In the Lord have I taken refuge; how then can you say to me, “Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;For see how the wicked bend the bow and fit their arrows to the string, to shoot from ambush at the true of heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold the inhabited world; his piercing eye weighs our worth. The Lord weighs the righteous as well as the wicked, but those who delight in violence he abhors. Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire and burning sulphur; a scorching wind shall be their lot. For the Lord is righteous; he delights in righteous deeds; and the just shall see his face.

Song:
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Words and Music: Martin Luther 1529

1.A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

2.Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name, From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

3.And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

4.That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2016 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved