“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” -Psalm 62:1-2, emphasis added
A government falls within a matter of weeks. An earthquake claims the lives of thousands of people. A pandemic rattles the world’s greatest institutions.
The world is in a season of shaking.
The Earth has endured periods of shaking, both literal and figurative. Fallen empires, natural disasters, and global pandemics have made their rounds throughout history. And when they do, they peel back the curtain to uncover where one’s faith truly lies.
What would you do if your financial security was threatened? How would you react if you suddenly lost a position of influence? Where would you turn if an outside force crushed your well-established dreams? The way you respond to the shaking of earthly foundations reveals where the treasure of your heart is stored.
Confusion, anger, sorrow, or worry are normal reactions to the world’s shaking. But for followers of Jesus, hope is not lost. Those who have given their lives to Christ have stored their treasures beyond earthly dominions (Matthew 6:19-21). So when the world shakes, God’s children can have peace in the midst of instability.
Jesus once told a parable of two builders—one who built his house on the rock and the other who built his house on the sand. Those who establish their faith on the things of the world—things that will ultimately fade away—are like the builder who constructed his house on the sand.
“‘The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’” -Matthew 7:27
Those who establish their faith on the purposes of God—which will last for eternity—are like the builder with the house on the rock.
“‘The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.’” -Matthew 7:25
God will sometimes allow the foundations of the world to shake. Political powers, financial systems, and other earthly forms of security will all eventually fall. It is then that we see how flimsy and insecure their foundations are. They are like sand under the might of God’s hand.
The only thing that will withstand the shaking is a faith that is built on the rock—the salvation of the Lord.
Life is full of shaking, even for those who are carrying out the mission of God. When security is compromised, when persecution comes, when the enemy tries to drag you off the path, where will you find your hope? When the Earth shakes, will you be shaken?
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” -Psalm 62:5-8