[Modified transcript of a midweek message published by Horley Baptist Church on YouTube[1], March 2020]
When life is falling down around us, can we find security?
Hi, I’m Martin, I’m one of the ministers at Horley Baptist Church.
I was just wondering – what are you up to? How are you using your time of social isolation? Maybe for some of you’re having a great time, time to get work done, time to sort out the garden, but I’m sure that for many of you are facing numerous challenges. I don’t know what they might be – maybe for you it’s boredom and loneliness; maybe for others of you you’re trying to manage work from home. Maybe like me you are trying to entertain children and teach them as well, or perhaps your needs are practical – you’re just trying to get food for you to eat.
00:50I was chatting the other day to some parents at the school gates whilst picking up my kids and they were sharing some of the challenges that they are facing during this difficult time. One mum I spoke to, her husband has work, has a job but isn’t being paid at the moment. Another, a dad I spoke to, he’s had his hours reduced and actually the future of the company is looking bleak and another mum, her husband is facing redundancy because of the virus. We live in a world where so much is built on our wealth, our jobs, our health our social lives and in just a matter of weeks this virus has undone all of that; perhaps you are looking at your life and wondering ‘what on earth am I going to do?’
01:56 In the nineteenth century a pastor of a church in Horsham, not far from Horley, penned some words which became a hugely famous hymn. I’m just going to share with you the first verse and the chorus, this is what it says “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ my righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly trust in Jesus’s name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”. See, unfortunately we have discovered these past few weeks that life is unpredictable and those things in which we have placed so much security aren’t as solid as we once thought and yet, as that writer of the hymn wrote, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”.
03:08 See, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe in a God as revealed through Jesus who is eternal, who is unchanging but who is secure and completely reliable and in a world where everything is shifting sand, where nothing lasts for ever and where those things in which we find security aren’t as secure as they once were I would encourage you to find your security in Jesus Christ, our rock and our firm foundation.
03:48 Before I go I’d love to pray for all of you who are struggling at this time, be it because of social isolation or difficult with work or financial instability. Let’s pray.
Lord God we just lift up to you now all those who are struggling, all those who are insecure in their life because their foundations have been swept out from under them. We just pray for them as they live with so much fear and uncertainty at this time. I just pray that you will give them what they need for every day. Lord God, we thank you that you love us and that you are intimately involved in our lives and you want what’s best for us and I just pray in the name of Jesus Christ that you will help all those who are struggling at this time. We pray particularly for those who are struggling with their health and we just pray for our medical services that they will be able to cope with the upsurge in people needing healthcare and, Lord God, we just pray for all those who are struggling that they will find in you a rock and a firm foundation and that they will find eternal security in you. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Thank you.
If you have a prayer request please email prayer@horleybaptist.org.uk
[1] YouTube link: Can We Find Security?
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Contributed by Martin Shorey; © Martin Shorey