By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15:1-5
Have you ever driven in snow or on black ice? I have. More than once my vehicle lost traction and I found myself careening out of control.
Many years ago our family was in the Australian alpine region and the snow was thick. When the brakes were applied, the bus just kept on going. We could see ourselves getting closer and closer to the edge of a drop off of several metres. We began to pray that the bus would come to a halt. As the bus kept moving, it looked inevitable that we were going to plunge over the precipice. At the last moment, I jumped out of the vehicle and reached out to push the bus away from the edge. To my amazement, it came to a complete stop! It wasn’t because of me. Undoubtedly the angels jumped out with me to save us from a serious accident. Evidently it was the Lord’s will that we walk away unscathed that day, and I thank Him again at the recollection of the incident.
Without question, snow and stability do not go together.
Have you ever wondered how to be a stable Christian?
In this brief Psalm, David’s inspired pen tells us how we can keep from wavering. He says in the final verse that the life he has just described ‘shall never be moved.’
That’s the kind of life I want! I want to be an unwavering Christian, don’t you?
How can this ‘steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 15:58) life be mine?
First, verse one teaches that I must be someone in close fellowship with my Lord and Saviour.
The first act of King David was to make the Tabernacle central to the nation. He wanted it to be the focal point of all those who walked with the Lord. Being the place where God’s earthly presence dwelt, the Tabernacle was vital. Anyone who hoped to be close to Him could be found at the Tabernacle frequently.
What about us New Testament Christians? The equivalent to the Tabernacle today is the prayer closet and our church family. A Christian who is uncommitted to serious prayer and ‘hit or miss’ in their church involvement cannot be close to the Lord and cannot be stable.
Let’s be faithful to the Lord! Let’s ‘draw nigh to God’ so ‘he will draw nigh to’ us (James 4:8).
This is the first step to stability.
Father, in a world that wavers all over the place, I want to remain firm, unmoved by people or circumstances. I see that my walk with You must be close. I realise that You promised to never leave me, and that You fulfil that promise in the Person of Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Keep me conscious of Your nearness. Keep me communing with You in praise, thanksgiving and prayer. Keep me confessing sin that blocks our closeness. Keep me faithful to our church family. I ask all this in the Name of Jesus Christ my Saviour, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.