“From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2
One of the reasons for which the Apostle Paul speaks of the “last days” being “perilous times,” (2 Timothy 3:1) is the flood of confusion, and deceit from the enemy of our souls. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy addresses the nature of the difficult times by writing of the Spirit speaking: “…in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Tim. 4:1) One of the major factors that makes this time in history so difficult for the believer is not just the unveiling of the nature of the spiritual conflict, but the “flood” of wickedness. Isaiah illustrates this by writing: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (Is. 59:19) Even the Apostle John wrote concerning Satan, and his efforts to destroy that which was of God, “…And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” (Rev. 12:15) The point is that one of the enemy’s tactics is to overwhelm the believer by the multitude of his attacks. How is the believer, facing such difficult circumstances, to overcome on this earth, following in the footsteps of Him who has already overcome every enemy?
Let us begin to answer the question by speaking of the “cry of the heart.” It was during the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah, that he agreed with king Ahab of Israel to go and fight against Syria. The Syrian army had been commanded to concentrate their attack on the “King,” in this case, Ahab. However, Ahab had disguised himself, so that when the army saw Jehoshaphat, openly distinguished as a king, the attack centered on him. The thirty-two captains of the Syrian chariots were closing in on him when in desperation, Jehoshaphat cried out. That cry, and we assume that it was to God, for this King was a man of faith, was the beginning of God’s means to deliver him. And this He did.
There are times, whether there be kings, soldiers, individual believers or Psalmists, that the consciousness of the need around them is acute, and desperate. There is that awareness and conviction, that only the intervention of God can save and deliver. For the believer, God has provided a way of having immediate audience with God, and this by fervent, intense prayer, the cry of the heart. Why is this prayer effective, even in the heat of the battle as was the case of Jehoshaphat? It is because of the singular point of reference for salvation WHO is sought. The merciful, gracious God, Christ, is waiting to answer the one who cries out.
In our day and time, when any soul can be overwhelmed by the “flood” of sin and wickedness, there is still that singular Rock, that blessed unchanging God who hears the cry of the heart in the midst of the battle. His invitation, even call, is to every individual to “come.” In some urgent, life-threatening circumstances, the call is to come quickly. In the daily worship of Christ, and the needs of the life at that time, the same calling of God is committed to every individual on the face of the earth: “Come unto Me.” There are promises associated with the call, the first being: “Whosoever will may come.” The second one is: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” God will hear and intervene to, “…lead to the rock that is higher than I.”
The cross of Christ is the greatest and unchanging testament to the mercy and grace of God towards every sinner, and in particular, the believer. God the Father, with the Son at His right hand, waits to hear the call of every heart. The singular, unchanging point of reference at all times is Christ.
Dear Father, We cry to Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.