Christ our Better Rock Hebrews 1:10–14

• My 93 year old Grandpa has a freezer that he and my grandma bought used in the 70s
• Still runs. I’m on probably the 4th refrigerator of my marriage. Things are made to wear out
• Everything in this world will wear out eventually. Even the earth itself will wear out
• You make a decision- live for this world, or live for a eternal future with Christ

• I have staked my entire existence on the hope of eternity in Heaven with Christ

• It means I live for him, live in such a way to please him and see this world as temporary. 
• Everything around you will wear out, but Jesus remains the Rock you can anchor to forever.

1. The Rock who laid the foundation

• Hebrews 1:10 You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
• What the writer is doing here ( and in the rest of verse) Is referencing psalm 102:25-27 READ
• Can you agree that this is a demonstrative demonstration of the supremacy of Christ as God
• Jews had an amazing reverence for God, and Hebrews says- JESUS IS GOD. 
• We read the book of Genesis and we see God creating the heavens and the earth, it was Jesus
• Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness
• God made it all. It is a scientific fact that many refuse to agree to. 
• Fine-Tuning of the Universe: If the force of gravity were altered by just 1 part in 10⁶⁰, stars and planets could never form. That’s like throwing a dart from one side of the universe to the other and hitting a single atom.
• Cosmological Constant: Adjust it by 1 part in 10¹²⁰,  the universe either collapses or flies apart.
• a 1 with 120 zeros. To picture it take every atom in the entire universe, all 10⁸⁰ of them. Then imagine stacking a trillion more universes like ours on top of that. You’d still fall short of 10¹²⁰. That’s how razor-thin the margin is.
• It’s like flipping a coin and having it land on heads not once, not a million times, not a billion times, but a trillion trillion trillion times in a row. That’s the level of precision.
• And yet the Bible says God ‘stretches out the heavens’ (Isaiah 40:22). What looks impossible by chance is exactly what He designed.
• Irreducible Complexity in Biology: The bacterial flagellum is a microscopic motor with 40 interdependent protein parts. Remove one, and it fails completely. Evolution by small steps can’t explain a system that only works when fully assembled.
• John 1:1–3 All things were made through Him. (Jesus) Jesus is God in the flesh. 
• Colossians 1:16–17 By Him all things were created, and in Him all things consist.
• Which begs the question- Why anchor your life in that which is not eternal?
• We just saw last week a woman who saw her husband assassinated, and then stood before millions and proclaimed her forgiveness for the killer. Only a Christian can do this
• Why? Because when you’re anchored in Christ, there is NOTHING that can set you off
• Not your team losing. Losing a job. House fire. Financial calamity. Nothing. I’m on the ROCK
• Matthew 6:19–20 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven
• Many people have hitched their horse of happiness to something temporary in this world
• Spouse, kids, job, money, things, etc. You have to hold them with an open hand. 
• 2 Cor 4:18 While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
• This is the key to Christ being a better rock. He is a better foundation than anything. 
• This is why its surprising, when something simple derails someone’s faith. Where was it?
• Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
• Make Christ the foundation. The base of operations in your life. 

2. The Rock who never crumbles

• The earth isn’t going to exist forever  The Earth Will Pass Away  Matt 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10 The Elements Melt, the Heavens Dissolve 2 Peter 3:12 Promises a New Creation  Isa 65:17; Isaiah 66:22 We Look for a New Heaven and Earth 2 Peter 3:13 The Final Fulfillment Rev 21:1
• Even the earth has an expiration date. There will be a day that it no longer exists
• Hebrews 1:11–12 Creation ages and is folded up like a garment, but Christ remains.
• Think of people you know who have died. You never see them again. Same with this earth
• This is why  Psalm 102:25–27 They will perish, but You shall endure.
• Right now, the White River Bridge between Buckley and Enumclaw is closed. 
• more than 22,000 cars a day, but one strike, one weak point, and the whole thing crumbled. 
• used to be a quick 5-minute drive is a 45-minute detour. People are late for work. Businesses are hurting. Life got a whole lot more inconvenient because the thing they relied on failed.
• This is what happens when what you rely on fails but Christ is the bridge that never collapses
• Christ is not going to fail you. This world will, but he wont. His bridge does not fail
• Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• Your future and current hope must be tethered to the one who never crumbles
• Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
• Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
• Did you know you can have Christ as your foundation and not actually trust in him?
• This happens to many. They’ve made the decision, but they haven’t handed over the reigns
• If you’re going to trust Christ with your salvation, you have to trust him with your life
• This is why many people don’t tithe. They don’t trust. Figure they should hold on to it. 
• Friend, Christ is never going to let you down. Never going to forsake you. 
• Do you you know how you walk out trust in Jesus? How you live the life?
• Matthew 7:24–25 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
• What were his sayings? 
• Beatitudes (Matt 5:3–12): The heart of the kingdom- humility, mercy, purity, peacemaking.
• True righteousness (Mat 5:17–48): Go beyond external religion- change the inside no more anger, lust, oaths, revenge, and love of enemies. 
• Spiritual disciplines (Matt 6:1–18): Give, pray, and fast in sincerity, not hypocrisy.
• Trust in God (Matthew 6:19–34): Lay up treasure in heaven, serve God not mammon, don’t worry seek first His kingdom.
• Relationships and judgment (Matthew 7:1–12): Don’t judge hypocritically, ask/seek/knock in prayer, treat others as you want to be treated.
• The narrow way (Matthew 7:13–23): Enter through the narrow gate, beware of false prophets, and make sure your profession matches your obedience.
• Set your life on those. It’s a bridge that will never go out. 

3. The rock of Victory

• Obviously we all want to win. No one likes to lose. I’m not saying you should be Christian so you wont lose, I’m just saying that Christians win in the end. The game is stacked in our favor
• Ancients lived in a much more precarious existence than we do. Death and sickness were everywhere. Living in a tumultuous time of wars, famines, and insecurities. 
• Everyone was religious. They all had a god that they worshipped and believed in
• Part of the theology of the OT and the NT is the annihilation and exaltation of YHWH
• Israel showed many times through the OT that God was with them in battle, and the writer of Hebrews reckons back to the declarations and reminds them of Psalm 110:1
• Hebrews 1:13 Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool.
• It’s an encouraging battle cry that encourages the Hebrew reader to not hitch their horse to any false god or way of worship that wont bring them the victory they seek. Only Jesus
• Jesus is God and the rock of victory of the OT and the NT
• Deut 20:4 For the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
• 1 Samuel 17:47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.
• Israel was a fledgling nation who needed all the help they could get. They needed YHWH
• And the constant fights and battles and wars taught them- GOD WILL HAVE THE VICTORY
• Psalm 44:6–7 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us.
• What does it mean to you?
• If you’re a Christian, you’re on the winning side. You need not fear the future. 
• We live in a time, that up until recently, there wasn’t much hope for the future, seemed like we were losing at every turn. Not so much over the last 2. We will see what the Lord does with it
• But regardless of the day to day experiences that we may have as Christian, there are 2 truths

• 1. We can have daily victory

• The walk with Jesus is not without it challenges, but through Christ we can overcome
• Ro 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
• All things. There is not one thing that we cannot conquer with Christ. Nothing. 
• As we stay rooted and grounded in him, the cares of this world, fade into the background and we find ourselves at the foot of the Cross, and our hearts and minds are filled with joy. 

• 2. Because we have eternal victory

• 2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
• 1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
• Psalm 60:12 Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
• What does this victory look like? Peace in the face of peril. Calm in the reality of a storm. Rejoicing in the reality of pain. The power to endure
• Its having an eternal mindset that these temporary trials will not destroy you. 
• 1 Corinthians 15:24–25 He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
• Don’t lose heart in the face of evil His reign is active, His victory is certain.

4. The Rock Who Protects

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

• Christ commands angelic hosts on behalf of His people. Angels are not sovereign; they are servants of the Rock, dispatched for your good.
• Many Christians needlessly and erroneously believe that they are out there on their own trying to figure it out and walk through this life on their own power and strength. NO
• Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
• You fear God. We fear God. That comes with rock solid promises! Angels surround us
• Daniel 6:22  My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths.
• 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.” 
• Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
• Acts 12:7 An angel of the Lord stood by Peter, and a light shone in the prison; he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.

• God’s people have always believed they are surrounded by heavenly help. 

• In Jewish thought, angels were fierce and revered but the writer of Hebrews reminds us they are simply messengers serving Christ’s purposes.
• From Abraham’s visitors, to the angel in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan 3:25), to the angels at the tomb of Jesus (Mat 28:2–7)
•  God continually reveals that His people are never left unguarded. NEVER. BE AWARE OF IT

• What does it mean to you?

• You are never alone. The Rock and his angels surround you with protection.
• Don’t worship angels, don’t fixate on them but don’t ignore the reality either.
•  Heaven’s armies move at His word for the sake of His children. YOU ARE WATCHED OVER
• Psalm 91:11  He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
• This truth should stir both confidence (you are not abandoned) 
• The way you live. Your protection and peace. Your day to day living. Be confident
• and commitment (if God protects you this much, how could you not trust Him fully?).
• since he gives his angels charge over you, how can you not trust him?

• He’s watching over you. He’s looking out for your best interests. 

• Church, Christ is the Rock who laid the foundation, the Rock who never crumbles, the Rock of victory, and the Rock who protects. Everything else in this life will wear out, your health, your money, your possessions, even the earth itself. But this Rock remains forever. You can keep chasing the temporary and end up stranded when it crumbles, or you can anchor your life in the eternal. Today is the day to choose. Stand on the Rock who cannot fail, and you will find yourself safe, steady, victorious, and protected, now and forever