Rock House
Reality television has become a craze in our society starting in the 1990s and according to wikipedia, “…then achieved prominence in the early 2000s with the success of the series Survivor, Idols, and Big Brother, all of which became global franchises.”
Until this past summer, I could tout that I never got sucked into any of these types of shows, discounting them as well far from true reality. I’d always found it odd that this was the type of programing that so captured the attention of our world.
This all changed on a recent trip to Maine. I had not expected to spend any significant amount of time watching television while visiting this beautiful state. We’d rented a home on a lake for two weeks. During that time we planned to vacation with family, do some work and basically enjoy the great outdoors. We’d not been there but a day or two and the opportunity to watch some TV surfaced for our guests who were family comprised of adult children and various significant others.
It quickly become apparent that the reality series “Alone” was the top choice. They were all drawn in and soon we were all watching the season in which the competitors would receive a $1M reward if they were able to survive 90 days in a remote region of northern Canada.
As we watched, one man began to stand out among the group of 10. He was experienced and it showed. One of the primary needs of the contestants, of course, is shelter. This man, in his wisdom, choose well. He did not select a tarp or log material. He instead selected rock. The other choices would have likely been much easier to construct, he may have been done sooner and he certainly would not have to work so hard. However throughout his time in the wilderness, each day as he returned home he found comfort in the solid structure which he fondly referred to as “Rock House”.
The chant “ROCK HOUSE” could be heard regularly among our guests during our stay in Maine and after. It represented a solid choice, a home base, safety and ultimately it became a vital piece of what brought the contestant to a final victory in surviving the 90 days alone.
A rock house is not a new concept nor is what it represents. Rocks have been key to building structures since man began inhabiting the earth. Jesus made reference to this idea when He was walking the earth. We read these words in Matthew 7:24-25 spoken by Him, “ Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
His “words” that He is talking about is the message of love He brought to us as instructing us to love God and others unconditionally. In Matthew 22:36-39, we find the two greatest commandments, “Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”’” These words are what Jesus tells us we are to be wise and do.
Christ is also known as the cornerstone of the church. In Ephesians 2:20-22 this is laid our for us, “…having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
A corner stone is the rock the brings solid construction to a structure. This is Jesus – the corner stone of our salvation being a solid choice for us providing us comfort, peace and protection. Jesus is the rock house for us, giving us what we need to make it through not just 90 days but through all our days: today, tomorrow and all eternity.
Our choice, our option. We can choose to build our lives on things that fail or instead we can choose Jesus as our corner stone rock and for Him to be our ROCK HOUSE!!!
JW