Psalm 27:1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Oh friends, this Sunday morning reminds me of Bruh David’s heartfelt words in the opening verse of Psalm 122: ‘I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.’ (Ps. 122:1) Consequently, I want to offer us that same marvellous opportunity today. So please, let us be glad on this the Lord’s Day and go into His house this morning filled with much thanks and praise for being alive and being a valued member of His flock, a joint heir with His Son Jesus Christ and therefore partakers of all that He has given to Christ. Nothing could be better than that my faithful brethren because it means the whole universe is our inheritance. Glory be!
And since our bountiful inheritance all came about through Christ’s selfless work, it’s only right that we should offer up heartfelt gratitude and praise to His holy name. And we’ll do that today by opening our proceedings with a song most appropriately titled, ‘In Christ Alone,’ written in 2002 by Stewart Townend and Keith Getty. The writers wanted to encapsulate the theme of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, plus its implications for us, and they certainly have done that. So, let’s raise our harmonious voices in sweet sacrificial praise in a rousing, but soulful, mid-tempo version of this beautiful song.
Singing: ‘In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of LOVE, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all—Here in the LOVE of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of LOVE and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine— Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death— This is the pow’r of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home— Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand. Yes, Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.’
Oh my people, that was a wonderful rendition, and all heaven was singing with us! And as I look at the words and sentiments expressed in the song, I can’t help but see the truth of it all. Christ is the ONLY ONE who can be at the same time, our hope, light, strength, song, cornerstone and solid ground. And we can find scriptures that personify all of them through Him.
Listen to this one on hope from the pen of Peter. ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.’ (1 Pet. 1:3) Yes my fellow believers, it’s only through Christ’s resurrection that we can have a true and living hope of eternal life!
And as per our light, Jesus Himself said it thus: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) And there’s no disputing that claim because it’s what He came to do; to bring the freeing light of God to a dark and sin enslaved evil world!
Then as regards our strength… Oh, we all know that magnificent verse of scripture written by Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!’ (Phil. 4:13) And that’s more gospel truth friends, because it is only through Christ’s strength, His empowerment, that we are able to stand strong and steadfast against the enemy and all his evil wiles and temptations. And Bruh David said it so well in Psalm 27: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ (Ps. 27:1)
And if you didn’t know about Christ being our song, (smile) Moses declared it long ago when he and the children of Israel sang: ‘The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation (praise Him); my father’s God, and I will exalt him.’ (Ex.15:2) And that verse was so important and sweet, that the psalmist gave it further exposure in Psalm 118:14.
Now, it’s no secret that Jesus is our cornerstone! He is our foundation, our measuring stick or example, the promise of God to His people! No ifs ands or buts about that, for without Him we’d be cast aside for ever. Isaiah said it long ago: ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone. A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.’ (Is. 28:16)
And Peter corroborates that the scripture was fulfilled, when speaking of Jesus: ‘Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed (rejected), the same is made the head of the corner (chief cornerstone).’ (1 Pet. 2:7) Yes friends, Christ’s church is the work of a Master Craftsman, and He is the solid, rocklike foundation on which it’s built.
And we all know what Jesus said about the man who built his life on Him. ‘Therefore whosever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a (the) rock.’ (Matt. 7:24) And that rock is Jesus, who no flood or strong wind or natural disaster can destroy, because He’s solid like a rock!
And we’ll end with this most appropriate commentary on the song. The writer sincerely entreats: ‘Lord, who am I, that you should desire so much to be LOVED by me? And who shall I LOVE, if I don’t LOVE You, my Jesus? Make me all Yours for the rest of my days. Give me Your LOVE; I ask for nothing more.’ Now, my fellow saints, please let that be our prayer for today! Much LOVE!
…Jesus is the ONLY sure hope in this world…
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