The saying goes “there are no guarantees in life,” and this saying is true in terms of the imperfect promises of friends and the unexpected abuses of foe. Nevertheless in this life, there are perfect promises available–promises firm and sure, solid as a rock.
One of the many names that is used to describe the Lord Jesus Christ is “the Rock.” The firm and immovable attributes of earthly rocks explain the parallel, and greater significance for this symbolism is understood by the Savior’s own analogy:
“Therefore whosoever heareth these , and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matt. 7: 24, 25).
Whatever challenges may come our way, the Rock provides solid support and saving solutions:
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deut. 32: 4); “But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge” (Psalm 94: 22); “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95: 1). “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn” (Isaiah 51: 1).
While the promises of friend and foe will fail, the promises of the Rock are steady and sure:
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23: 19).
Because God keeps His promises perfectly, this is precisely why He called prophets to minister to a remnant of “the house of Israel” (Matt. 15: 24) residing in the Western Hemisphere; because God keeps His word 100% of the time, this is also why the resurrected Christ visited “other sheep” (John 10: 16; 3 Nephi 15: 21) not of the “fold” living in the land of Jerusalem.
Descendants of Joseph the son of Israel, living is the Americas were commanded by God to keep a record; this record is “the stick of Joseph” (Ezek. 37: 15-20); it contains a second witness of Jesus Christ, the Rock of our salvation (2 Nephi 4: 30), and further declares this precious promise:
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5: 12).
This priceless promise offers a flawless guarantee: “they cannot fall” who build upon the Rock of their Redeemer. Those who faithfully strive to learn of Him and follow Him, will be founded upon the Rock, and by His goodness and grace comes the perfect guarantee.
