Built on the Rock

 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12 ESV).

 

Some history is important before I get to a very important truth to ponder today. All of these historical facts will make sense as you continue to read on. On October 12, 1492, the day Columbus first set foot on the soil of the Americas, St. Elijah's Monastery (pictured) in Iraq was 900 years old. On November 27, 1095, the day Pope Urban called for a crusade to rescue the Holy Land, St. Elijah's had already been around for four centuries. Indeed, the Monastery was in existence before Mohammad claims to have been directed by Gabriel to write and speak about his new religion. Founded in the late-sixth century, St. Elijah's Monastery of Mosul is the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq. Sorry, that statement isn't very accurate. It would be better to say St. Elijah's Monastery of Mosul was the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq. The change is necessary because sometime between the end of August and September 2014 the monastery was completely leveled by ISIS.

Now that's a sad thing. When American forces were there, they tried to protect the place; for years, archaeologists have done their best to restore the site, and for Christians of Iraq the Monastery symbolized their culture, their community, and their church. But the Monastery, along with all it represented, while ISIS claimed a victory, they lost more than they could have ever imagined. Nicholai Gruntvig wrote the following verse:

Built on the Rock the Church doth stand, Even when steeples are falling;

Crumbled have spires in every land, Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest, But above all the soul distrest,
Longing for rest everlasting.

Surely in temples made with hands, God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands, All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He whom heavens cannot contain, Chose to abide on earth with men,
Built in our bodies His temple.

We are God's house of living stones, Builded for His habitation;
He through baptismal grace us owns, Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell, Yet He would deign with us to dwell,
With all His grace and His favor.

Today, even though St. Elijah's monastery is gone, all of God's grace and favor remain. It is something for all of God's people to remember in these times when the devil is doing his best to undermine our confidence in the Christ who gave His life to give us life.