Thomas Hastings was the one who wrote the tune behind ‘Rock of Ages’. In its day, this tune touched the hearts of many learning to trust in Jesus. Here is verse three of this old hymn:

“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!”

There is nothing we have to offer that God desires (except our hearts), so we must cling to what He did on the cross for us. Stripped of all spiritual covering, we come to Jesus, the Rock of Ages, for that spiritual covering, received by grace. In my nature, I am foul, so I run to the cleansing fountain where my sins can be cleansed. Wash my sins clean or I’ll die in them! What a cry of desperation!

Tags: clean, cry, hymns