We have heard of the Christian saying “Broken on the Rock of Jesus”. What does this mean?
Apostle Peter is our classic example. Once a head strong, prideful follower of Christ, he went through being “broken” to become one of Christ’s main Gospel proclaimers in the early days. Let us read —
“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”“Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:54-62)
No doubt Peter broke down knowing that after all Jesus did for Him, and Peter giving up his life to follow Him, he pitifully denied His King and Savior right when Jesus was in need of his support. This moment, we believe, caused Peter to lose his prideful self. The broken pieces of self dropped down to the ground, so that Christ could uplift him with the Holy Spirit. Is this our experience?
“..Peter who denied Christ in the hour of His greatest need was impulsive and self-confident, differing widely from the Peter who was brought before the Sanhedrin for examination. Since his fall he had been converted. He was no longer proud and boastful, but modest and self-distrustful. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and by the help of this power he was resolved to remove the stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he had once disowned.” (AA, p.62)
I have posted before my own testimony of being “broken” and would like to share it again.
Back in late 2008, early 2009, I came to “know” Christ by picking up the Bible one day and never looking back. After discovering God’s Holy Commandments (specifically the Sabbath) I became a Seventh-day Adventist. But it wasn’t until about two years later that I came to be “broken”.
My old self was still alive, although considerably altered and discovering Christ and His Truth more and more as my walk continued. But after those couple of years I started to notice some things within the church (careless Sabbath keeping, Women pastors, etc.) that made me start to think “what is really going on here”?
After all we as Adventists tell the world we are the “remnant church”, those keeping the Commandments of God. Yet, away from the world’s gaze , things like eating at restaurants on the Sabbath were common place for the “old timers” in my Church. This began to be quite puzzling to me. I came into the church thinking we were a light to the world in how Christians follow His Commandments.
But the big moment came one day about two years after joining the church. I was in a town close to mine and knew there was another S.D.A church in that town of which I traveled by it often in my work. Being happy with my own church I had never went to this church but for some reason I was guided by the Spirit to notice something with this church.
I knew that the church has ownership of the whole corner block, as someone had pointed that out to me prior. There were small offices in the adjacent corner building next to the church. One of the offices had a sign saying “Chiropractor”. As I slowly drove by I noticed the phone number on the building. I decided to call it to see if it was open on Saturday. Surely my people, my beloved church would confirm to me its upholding our Sabbath publicly! Confirmation of my people’s dedication was all I wanted.
As the man answered I asked him if they were open for business Saturday. He replied “Yes we are, would you like to make an appointment?” Now, imagine a ton of bricks landing on you spiritually. As I hung up I very soon had to pull over. Devastating thoughts going through my mind. There was a big hit from the past called “I’ll never fall in love again” by the famous singer –Tom Jones. One of the lyrics says ” and I broke up all inside”. This happened that day.
My beloved church , how could they??? Tell the world to “keep the Sabbath” yet within our own gates break it right in front of the world for all to see! I did as Peter did, “wept bitterly”.
But in hind sight this was my “broken on the Rock of Jesus” moment. For never again was I to be the same person. Although I was Adventist, I had not quite had an experience like that before.
In Ezekiel 9 we read —
“Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” (Ezekiel 9:3-4)
This prophecy came into true understanding soon after. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was “sighing and crying” for abominations done in the midst (the church). The Lord began to work His divine plan in my life. About two weeks later I was online and heard a sermon on the 144,000. Ezekiel 9:3-4 came alive to me!
Now I KNEW what the Lord’s plan was for me and the church. So clear as to make me literally feel like I was walking off the ground for the next 6 weeks or so! True, it’s solemn yet for those who truly love Christ and His Truth, a most glorious final Gospel proclamation plan awaits!
Spirit of Prophecy tells us this same sediment–
“In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honour and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favour of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous.
They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church. The Spirit of God, which prompts to reproof, is trampled underfoot, while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonoured, the truth made of none effect.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.210-211)
Many of you no doubt have your own story of that special moment. But as SOP says pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church and as such a vast multitude are NOT broken in our church. Some may find that they get broken bit by bit, beholding the vast sins prevalent among our people. But the fact remains we must get broken, self must be brought down.But once we experience it, we soon find that our King builds us up with His love and plans for us. The conversion is truly established.
“..if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:13)
Very soon we as Adventists will have to broken and dead to self when the Lord “suddenly comes to His Temple” (Mal. 3:1). If we are not this Rock may finally break us, but not in the way we want. Now is our time to submit and “sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst.”
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