There’s a passage in the Bible that tells the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt while his followers praised him as the Son of God. The Pharisees commanded Jesus to reprimand them, but he declined. He told them that would be useless, because “if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!”
During my last two days of travel (much of it through the Smoky Mountains), stones, rocks, cliffs and boulders were my companions. While driving through tunnel-like rock-cuts with walls of stone rising on both sides of the highway, I thought about that incredible statement of Jesus.
I’d absolutely love to hear the Smoky Mountains cry out their praise to the Lord. It would be a grand symphony unparalleled by the finest orchestra, and loud, too! Maybe as the winds blow through even now, words of praise are already tucked into the whooshing, but our ears are simply unable to hear them.
The imposing rock-walls all along the route are a geologist’s dream, since sedimentary rock has been laid bare by dynamite and cliff-shaving equipment. Layers of rock that lay buried for thousands of years are now exposed, decorated by waterfalls frozen mid-tumble. Most layers are skewed, having been heaved to and fro during the global flood of ancient times.
Another “rocky” Scripture tells us there will come a time on earth when people who’ve rejected God will realize their error and recognize his judgment coming. Their desperate plea will be to experience death under a rock slide rather than face God’s unfiltered wrath. However, if they saw the fifty foot deep rock slide covering North Carolina’s I-40 highway right now, they might withdraw their request. Workers say it’ll take six months to clear the fall-out of boulders that tumbled down, some as big as houses. Being buried there would be excruciating.
All of us can, at times, end up between a rock and a hard place, but calling out for rocks to come and crush us is something else again. The truth is, God wants no one to end up under a rock pile, especially not by personal request. He’d rather we join him throughout eternity in his celestial home, safely out of the way of rock-damage. There will be rocks in heaven though, because Scripture describes the walls of the heavenly city as being made of the best kind of rocks: jewels.
Anyone can be sure of living there one day. All that’s needed is to follow the example of the people who sang Jesus’ praises when he rode on that colt so many years ago. They acknowledged him as King of heaven and Lord of glory, which is the key that unlocks heaven’s gates to all of us.
Jack and I are home now, after adding 2524 miles to the Highlander’s odometer. But I won’t soon forget the beauty of the Smokys or the Lord of all stones. He not only controls the rocks, he is one:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. (2 Samuel 22:2)
“The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God: …‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out’.” (Luke 19:37-40)
“Every man …said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” (Revelation 6:16)
Margaret, I think you are like a jewel discovered after an earthquake. I’m glad you are writing and showing all God’s wonders now…thanks.
Thanks for these beautiful photos. I am thrilled that you were able to be here and see all this beauty. All four seasons are absolutely breath-taking. Come back, soon.
Thank the Lord for bringing you and Jack safely home. You are an inspiration in so many ways.
So glad you and Jack are safely home. Thank you for sharing the beauty of God’s handiwork, and all that He is revealing to you.
We all are on Marni/Jack withdrawal! It was such fun having you here, and the grandkids say that we are just alike (tee hee!). They laughed about it behind our backs while you were here.. ;^D I’m looking forward to seeing you in June. Your blog is one of my daily devotionals. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! It’s worth all your study, prayer, and hard work!
Welcome home. Yes, home is a good place. But getting away is always stimulating and a blessing as well. Thanks for your daily encouragement.
The drive from Ashville to Knoxville is through the gorge and Smokey’s – in my mind…is one of the most beautiful trips in the Eastern states. I knew about the rock slides..but did not want to cause you concern…just prayed there would not be one when yo went through. It is an awesome sight to behold and I would not want to witness the action of one. I would imagine it is the same as experiencing an earthquake. Glad you and Jack are home safely and thanks for the photos.
Today for the first time I REALLY stared at the picture of the turbulent waves and the inscription “Getting Through This” at the top of your blog. It struck me in a powerful way, that only God can get us through anything whatsoever!
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for letting us take the trip with you to Florida and back. So glad you’ve arrived safely.
You have given us much to think about as you have blended meditations on nature and Scripture. Up north, the cold and snow and ice and dunes, and on your way back mountains and rocks!
I thought of other prominent “rock” verses as I was reading your blog and thinking about that time in the end when it will seem better to unrepentant people to be crushed by falling rocks rather than face God.
In Matthew 16, Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter replied accurately, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What Jesus said next has caused great confusion about the position of Peter in the church as well as at the entrance to heaven. Jesus told Peter he was blessed because God had revealed this truth to him, and then said “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church.” Jesus was playing on words here, as Peter or Petros meant “little stone,” but what Peter said, that was Petra, or “large rock.” The rock was not Peter, but the truth he spoke concerning the identity of Christ. Peter was a little man who said a big thing. The deity of Jesus Christ is the foundation, the bed-rock upon which the church rests.
This Cornerstone, Peter later said in 1 Peter 2, would be a rock of offense and a stone of stumbling. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 21 when He was facing fierce opposition and unbelief. He only gave two choices- either fall on this cornerstone in brokenness and humility in coming face to face with sin and the need for a Savior, or it will fall on you. The Apostle Paul said the cross is foolishness and a stumbling stone to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.
Just like Peter, only God can draw a person to the truth. He does this through creation first, declaring generally that there is indeed a God. But then He specifically reveals Himself through His book, and identifies Who this Creator God is. He is Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, the rock of salvation to those who receive Him, the stone of stumbling and offense to those who refuse Him.
Maybe some people will think I have rocks in my head, but time on earth is short, just a stone’s throw from eternity, and I’m casting my lot with little Peter in his big revelation that Jesus is the Christ.
Welcome back!
Love,
Terry