Salvation Is a Work of Christ

Augustus Montague Toplady was born in 1740 and died in 1778 at the age of thirty-seven.  When Augustus was only sixteen, he visited Ireland and was converted in a service in a barn.  The preacher, Morris, was illiterate but warm hearted. Toplady thought this was unusual, that he who had sat under scholars was brought close to God in a barn by a Lay Pastor who could hardly spell his name. He said, “Surely this is the Lord’s doing!”. In 1763 there is a bit of folklore that tells us that he was on a journey and got caught in a thunderstorm.  He hid under a large boulder and that became the inspiration for his famous hymn, “Rock of Ages”. The folklore may or may not be true, but regardless, it drove home the meaning that our salvation is a work of Christ. “Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress.  Helpless, look to thee for grace.  Foul, I to the fountain fly.  Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

From Exodus, Moses seeks God’s reassurance and God’s response.  When Moses asked God to reveal His glory to him, God answered saying “no one may see me and live”. (Vs. 20) He tucked Moses into the rocks when He passed by, letting Moses only see His back.

We can trust that just as God said to Moses, “My presence will go with you” (vs. 14), we can find refuge in Him.  We may experience storms in our life as did Moses and Augustus Toplady, but when we cry out to God, God will give us peace. Toplady knew that apart from Christ, we simply won’t become better people.  We’re headed for the wrath of God over us, and unless Christ washes us with his precious blood and gives us his peace, we have no hope. Toplady has us clinging to Christ, that rock of ages who is our double cure, freeing us from sin’s power and sin’s guilt. This is Augustus Toplady’s great hymn, “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me.”

Prayer: Father, help me trust that You’re with me, even during the storms of life.  Amen.

Exodus 33:22 – When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

Author: Tommy Herndon