The word 'Rock', as in a geological formation comes in all shapes and sizes from Uluru to pebbles on a beach. Sometimes a lady will refer to her diamond engagement ring as 'my rock', and certainly, that is what it is – in geological terms.
These images carry with them the 'unforgiving' and 'hard' nature of rocks. They give the impression of being unmoveable, and containing a certain kind of strength. If we talk about a person being 'as solid as a rock', we think of a certain kind of personality that is dependable.
Companies and advertisers have also put to use this word 'Rock' illustrating a certain stability to their organisation or product. These range from a Rock Building Society to the title of an Australian Climbing Magazine ('Rock') to a restaurant, a winery, and a movie.
And when someone is at the lowest of the low, they are referred to as being at 'rock bottom' – which symbolises digging a hole, right through the soft topsoil, until you get to the rock that is under the Earth.
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson, a Baptist minister whose wife Delma is a 'green thumb', knows the difficulties associated with these rocks in the Earth when trying to make a garden.
The problem of rocks is even more marked in Israel; tje When they have led tours to the Holy Land, they saw that huge portions of agricultural land have been cleared of rocks which now serve as fence lines.
A common word in the Bible is this word 'Rock'. Following geological references, the word 'Rock' takes on a more significant meaning in that it represents something 'unmoving' or 'solid' or 'steady'. Psalm 18 verse 2 highlights one use, "The Lord is my Rock' …. Psalm 89 verse 26, "You are my God, the rock of my Salvation".
The New Testament links the word 'Rock' with the Messiah as in Romans 9 verse 33 "a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." Again in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 4: "for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ."
This passage has been very significant in the ministry of M V Tronson as a chaplain in both the sport and the corporate sectors. Stability is a major focus in people's lives. Everyone is looking for security and assurance in their hearts.
Psalm 31 verse 3: "You are my rock and my fortress – lead me and guide me."
A thoughtful message for this Easter, in these difficult economic times, is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have the Rock (the Lord), upon which we can rely, and call upon, with the Psalmist's words,
"You are my rock and my fortress – lead me and guide me."