Watch out for falling rock!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 7, 8, 9

Isaiah 8:11-14a (NIV)

11 The Lord spoke to me [Isaiah] and with His strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: 12 “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13 The Lord God Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread, 14 and He will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel He will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

Revelation 22:12-13 (NIV)

12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Good morning!

If you’ve ever driven Missouri Ozarks highways, you may have noticed signs posted along the side of the road saying, “Watch out for falling rock.” My father used to tell us a story about a disappearing Indian named Falling Rock. Every time we passed by a rocky crag near the roadway, he would recite the story. My sister and I would strain our eyes to see if the disappearing Indian was sitting on horseback at the top of the hill, waiting to head our automobile off at the pass. My father loved folklore, and he was quite the story teller.

When the people of Judah and Israel heard the stories of Isaiah, many did not believe him. This preacher turned prophet cried out to a generation who refused to listen to the only truth worth hearing. God spoke through his servant Isaiah, warning His children to look beyond what it visible, and to catch a glimpse of what is everlasting and infinite. We tend to focus on the people and things that trip us up in life; they get in our way of what we believe as true success and happiness. We fear the troubles in life that will only last a short while; but forget to honor the One is who lives and reigns forever and ever.

When a falling rock moves into our path and we stumble and stub our toes on the jagged stepping stones, why can’t we see the Lord is trying to get our undivided attention? We worry and fret about the people who cause us pain and wonder if their evil agenda will ever end; and yet, we forget to focus on the only One we really need to fear. Have you ever been so distracted by a nasty neighbor, a mean-spirited co-worker, or a controlling family member, that you lose sight of what is truly important? That falling rock may be crashing down on top of you; but you are so busy fighting the trivial that you miss seeing the boulder hanging over your head.

The Lord God Almighty is holy. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. He is the first and He will be the last. We are His people, and He longs for us to pay Him the attention He rightly deserves. Do not get caught up in the fear of things that will soon pass away to the exclusion of the One who reigns forever. We travel along life’s pathway for such a short time before we enter into an eternal realm; a place where we will be in a forever relationship with the Lord, or separated from Him forever. He gives each of us some time to choose. Which rock will you focus on? Whom will you serve and honor with your life?

Whenever you see a sign along the highway that says, “Watch out for falling rock,” think about the Rock of Ages. Do you only know about Him, or do you know Him? Is He your Savior? The words of Isaiah speak. That falling rock can save you, if you’ll cry out to Him today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the stumbling stone to trip you up and the falling rock to block your way! The Lord God Almighty is trying to get your attention. He is so much more important than the tales you are spinning your life’s story on. Stop worrying about the trivial and look up! He is trying to get your attention right now. Won’t you cry out to Him and live!

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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding

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