All Other Ground
There is something to be said about a firm foundation. Without one, structures crumble and eventually fall. Without one, homes cannot endure the test of time. Without a firm and solid foundation, it is only a matter of time before collapse becomes inevitable.
I found myself listening to an “old” worship song again this past week. I say “old” because while it might be “old” to me, it’s really not all that old when you hold this song up to some of the hymns of old, the anthems of our faith, like “Amazing Grace” or “It Is Well”, but nevertheless, this particular song felt “old” to me. I first heard the song when I was in college at Moody Bible Institute. We would sing it regularly in our chapel services that we attended, and without fail, I was never able to make it to the end of this song without tears streaming down my face.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m a crier, but I’m also not one to try to hold back tears when they need to come, and they often seem to come for me in times of worship. I guess it’s something about boldly declaring truth through song that arouses these emotions within me. Or maybe it’s the clarity that worship brings which reminds me of who God is and who I am not. Either way, the tears would always come. I was lucky if I could make it through the first few verses of this song, but if I did, I would for sure be a hot, blubbering mess by the last verse.
Fast forward to my years post college when I attended my very first Beth Moore event, complete with an entire worship team of talented and anointed individuals who led us to the throne in worship to prepare our hearts for the Word that Beth would bring. Wow! I had been in many powerful worship settings in my life up until this point, but there was something “not of this world” that I experienced there. The power of the Holy Spirit fell so fresh and thick in that place, and I knew that I would need a box of tissues and not just one when they began to lead us in this song.
I knew the words well. I had sung them 1000 times before. I had wept through them. I had rejoiced through them. These lyrics had been faithful to see me through just about every season someone can face on this side of heaven.
Sometimes, the overly familiar can cause us to miss the extraordinary though.
Just when I was about ready to settle back into the ways that God had used this song in my past, failing to expect Him to be the God who does a NEW THING in my present, the worship team broke out into a rendition of another hymn right in the middle of the song…a hymn that I also was familiar with but was not expecting—words that have served as my firm foundation for just about as long as I have been in Christ.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
Undone. Simply undone in that moment.
As I mentioned, I have found myself with this song again this week, a song that has made reappearances in my life several times over the past 15 years, but a song that I hadn’t listened to once this entire year…until this week. Are you dying to know yet?
In Christ alone
My hope is found
He is my life, 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
Fulness 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 every sin on Him was laid
Here in the depth 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
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry, to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or call me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Christ alone is our firm foundation. He alone is the secure footing we are looking for in this insecure existence. Christ alone is the solid Rock upon which we can stand and know peace.
ALL OTHER GROUND is sinking sand. All other ground isn’t necessarily bad, but our hopes better not be in all other ground because if they are, we’ll sink fast. Our hope is in Christ alone, and when we find our hope placed firmly in Him, we find ourselves soaring above the stormy waves of our circumstances, walking above the water instead of sinking into it.
About Cherie
Founder of Neue Thing, Inc. and author of several Bible studies and books for women that encourage them to know and believe God’s Word, equip them to live it, and empower them to take it and transform this generation for Jesus Christ.
