There it was, right along the edge of the worst river rapids in North America – A tree, rooted into a boulder. 

With white water rapids rated on a scale of 1-6, with Class 1 rapids being easy and Class 5 being nearly impossible to ride through safely, the lower Niagara River rapids are considered a Class 6: Unrunnable!

After falling over Niagara Falls, the Niagara River gorge narrows, and the water roars through this part of the gorge at a speed of up to 48 km/hr. The water is about 15 meters deep, and the waves reach 3-5 meters on an ordinary day, and much higher during a storm. This makes the stretch of river rapids the largest and finest series of standing waves in North America. 

Needless to say, there have only been a handful of people to come through the rapids alive, and most of them made the trip in a barrel. 

I, for one, don’t even want to try!

Yet there was this tree, clinging to its rock, right in the worst section of white water in North America …

It makes me think. Jesus is often referred to in the Bible as the “Rock”. 

He is “My Rock” (See Ps. 18:2).
He is an “everlasting Rock” (See Isaiah 26:34).
He is “my rock, my salvation, my fortress (See Ps. 62:2). 
He is the “stone that the builders rejected” (See Ps. 118:22).
He is the “stone of stumbling and the rock of offense” (See Romans 9:33).

To name a few. 

But perhaps the most poignant verse is this: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24 NIV). Jesus goes on to say why building on the rock is important: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:25 NIV)

In other words, when we obey Jesus’ teachings, we are building upon Him, the living Word of God, the Rock, and nothing will be able to sway us. 

In the parable given in Matthew 7, this is contrasted to the one who builds his house upon the sand: “But everyone who hears these words of mind and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and if fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:26-27 NIV)

The little tree along the Niagara River Gorge in the lower Niagara River rapids knew better than to put its roots down in the sand. It would have been swept away. In fact, it would never have been able to take root in the first place. But by putting its roots down on the rock, it had a firm foundation. The raging Class 6 white-water could roar all around it, but the tree would stand firm. 

What are you rooted in? Have you grounded yourself on Jesus? On the Rock? Do you pay attention to His teachings and obey His commands? If so, then like that little tree, you have a firm foundation, and when the winds and waves of trials and circumstances whirl around you, even at Class 6 force, you have nothing to fear. You are grounded on Jesus, the Rock. 

If you’ve never accepted Jesus into your heart, why not do it today? For when you do, you will be putting down your roots into the living Rock, the firm foundation, the everlasting Rock. We invite you to answer the Saviour’s Call today! 

Maybe you’ve already given your heart to Jesus, however; but you find it difficult to get into God’s Word. Maybe you don’t have time. Maybe the language seems too strange. Or maybe you do try to read God’s Word regularly, but you are saved, right? Besides, does it really matter that you tell a little lie? And the whole world thinks living with your girlfriend/boyfriend without getting married is okay, and since Jesus forgives all of our sins, why not follow the ways of the world? And coming in to work late every day … Your boss never finds out, and hey, you get your work done! Besides, Jesus forgives! So why not? 

Yes, Jesus DOES forgive us when we sin. However if we want our roots to grow down into the Rock, to cling to the Rock, we must also “hears these words of mine and puts them into practice”! 

Want to have a sure foundation that will never fail you, even in the midst of Class 6 white-water rapid-style trials and temptations? Give your heart to Jesus, get into His Word, and follow what He tells us to do! When you do, just like the little tree clinging to the rock in the lower Niagara River rapids, you can be assured that you … will stand!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries