"Firm Footing."

From: The Gospel Echo: Volume 17 (1901)

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

ON the sea wall of one of the watering-places in North Wales is placed a large board with the above inscription. When the sea is boisterous there are tracts of quicksand which would yield to the pressure of the unwary foot. But near the wall, as indicated by the board, was “firm footing.”

There are many quicksands on the shore of time, and it is one of the objects of these humble pages to point out the dangerous places, and to uplift a pointing finger to the firm footing revealed by the Holy Spirit in the gospel of the grace of God. All the good works, so called, that men perform with the idea of meriting the favor of God, are quicksands. All penances performed with the same view are equally deceitful sands. And there are many others.

But the work of the Lord Jesus Christ gives the soul “firm footing.” The merits of His life and death are infinite; and a true faith is favored to realize that the standing hereby given is safe for time and for eternity.

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.”

This Rock is the only sure footing for ruined sinners. It will stand all the tests of time, and it will stand when all refuges of lies shall have been swept away.

Great Rock for weary sinners made,

When storms of sin infest the soul;

Here let me rest my weary head,

When lightnings blaze and thunders roll.

Within the clefts of His dear side,

There all His paints in safety dwell;

And what from Jesus shall divide?

Not all the rage of earth or hell.

Blest with the pardon of her sin,

My soul beneath Thy shade would lie,

And sing the love that took me in,

And others left in sin to die.