Have you chosen the Rock or the hard place?

We sprang our clocks forward of this past weekend to start Mountain Daylight Savings Time, and spring begins at 3:24 pm MDST this coming Monday. So we’re between the springing forward and the spring equinox.

The recent changing of the clocks and the upcoming first official day of spring brought a few things to mind. That is, moving the clock forward means getting up an hour earlier in the morning and makes the day seem longer, at least for a brief period, because it gets dark later.

Then, the onset of spring leads to an increase in activities, especially in the late evening, because of those longer days. That could put one between a rock and a hard place, so to speak, for getting enough sleep and continuing life’s activities.

Being between a rock and a hard place reminded me of Balaam’s donkey, who brought Balaam to his senses, at least briefly, by putting him between a rock and hard place, the latter being the donkey’s ribs (Numbers 22:1-38, especially verses 24-25).

We often find ourselves between a rock and a hard place in this life. The most common cause is sin – either ours or others’ (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-19; Romans 3:23; 6:23). But while unforgiven sin leads to spiritual death – eternal separation of our spirit/soul from God – sin doesn’t always lead to immediate physical death, giving God the opportunity to help us get back on track, even by using unpleasant means, if necessary (1 John 5:17; Acts 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12; Revelation 20:11-15; Hebrews 12:4-11; 2 Peter 3:8-13). That’s what God was doing for Balaam when he put him between the rock and the donkey’s rib.

Being between a rock and a hard place is similar to the old timey phrase, “betwixt and between,” which meant neither here nor there. Biblically speaking, while on earth, all of us are betwixt and between a rock and a hard place with the responsibility to choose where we’ll spend eternity, whether with Jesus, the Rock of our salvation, or in the hard place of torment in hell (Psalm 18:31; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Philippians 2:8-9; Romans 8:31-35; Matthew 13:36-43; Mark 9:43-48). God encourages us to choose the Rock – becoming Christians – by putting us in the optimum situation to learn about him and his love through his magnificent creation and the lives of those who have already chosen the Rock (Acts 17:24-27; Romans 1:20; 5:6-11; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15-16).

Christians are already in God’s kingdom as citizens of heaven with Jesus interceding for us (Philippians 1:23-24; 3:20-21; Colossians 1:13-14). We’re just waiting to transition from this life to the next. Those who don’t become Christians before their earthly life is over are transported straight to the place of torment to await the final judgment, while Christians are transported to begin enjoying their eternal reward (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-23; 2 Peter 2:4-9).

Have you chosen the Rock, or the hard place? The time for that decision is now (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].