Faith & Insight: Between a Cross and Hard Place

Yesterdays’ focus was the cross, tomorrow’s focus will be the stone rolled away, so what do we do in between this rock and this hard place? Where is our focus?

“And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, ‘My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch -with Me.’” Matthew 26:37-38

Jesus asked the disciples to tarry, and to watch with Him. The word tarry means to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy, to abide, continue, dwell, remain, stand (Complete Word Study Bible).

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore …” Ephesians 6:13-14

The disciples were between a cross and a hard place, and in this case the hard place is the unrolled-away stone. Now we find ourselves between the rolled-away stone, the hard place, and the Christ to return. And, as they were asked, so should we be asked, “tarry ye here and watch with Me.”

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is … Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:32, 33, 35-37

Will you tarry with Him? Are you willing, in this age of compromise, to stay alert, to be vigilant, to stand firm on the Word of God, and to pray? We are on the other side of the cross, we see why He came, we see the fulfillment of His covenant, but we have yet to see the glory of His return. Are we willing to watch and pray? Will we be as the disciples were, growing weary and falling asleep? Or will we cry out, as did the shipmaster on the sinking ship.

“What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.” Jonah 1:6

Let us rise up, stand firm on the word, pray, and tarry:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Pat Propster is the pastor of Calvary Chapel of Carson City.