Tag cornerstone

The Sure STONE

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“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16).

In this language we hear the voice of God predicting the coming of the Messiah who is described as a “sure foundation.”

God has used this language of building before. “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2Sam 7:12, 13).

It’s axiomatic that before building of any structure one must begin with a foundation that is strong, level, and sure. Every other building block will be aligned to the foundation.

We’re speaking about a spiritual building which is divine in origin, and therefore worthy to be built upon.

The OT prophecies identify Jerusalem as the place of the building, also called SION (ZION). “I lay in Zion.” This is a Synonym for the Jewish nation, Jerusalem in particular. Jesus was a Jew, of the family of David (Matt 1). In Jerusalem He was crucified, Buried, and raised. In Jerusalem the gospel was 1st preached. (Acts 2). “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 8:14). Many at that time expected a physical building, but God laid the foundation to a spiritual building in Jerusalem. This continues to be a common error of denominationalism.

Jesus said, “I will build my church.” and “My kingdom is not of this world.” (Matt 16:18; John 18:36). Jerusalem (Zion / Sion) is the place where the spiritual kingdom of God would begin. Prophecy prevents Jesus from having a physical building & throne in Jerusalem. “Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah” (Jer 22:30).

Isaiah says that this would be a TRIED Stone. A tried stone is a stone for solidarity, for strength, for duration. Jesus was tried by Satan, by men, and by God. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 3:15).

While there are many stones in a building, there is only ONE foundation stone. It is of Precious value to God, the Father. The ONLY begotten Son, (John 1:14; 3:16; Mark 1:11). Precious to Man, the believer (1Pet 2:7). The ONLY sufficient sacrifice, (1Pet 1:18,19). The ONLY hope of salvation. “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11,12).

Christ is the chief cornerstone. The cornerstone is the NUMBER ONE stone. His position is chief (Col 1:18). He has the Preeminence. The chief cornerstone unites both sides of the edifice. He is Deity & Humanity, the old and the new dispensations. He brings together both Jew & Gentile united in HIM (Eph 2:19,20).

We are warned about how we build. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). We must be careful to build on this stone.

Agape,

Spencer

4 Wise Little Creatures pt2/4 ROCK badger

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God uses nature to teach spiritual lessons. “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.” (Job 12:7).

This article looks at another wise creature, the ROCK Badger; “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” (Prov 30:26)

While we may not readily recognize this animal, we do know that they are considered weak, yet make their houses among the rocks.

It is these qualities that will be the focus of this article.

The obvious lesson has two elements. The first is easy, we are the “feeble folk,” “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom 5:6).

The second element is a little bit trickier, but all relate to one another. The ROCK in the New Testament is spoken of in 3 ways; 1) Christ is the ROCK, (1Cor 10:4), 2) The sayings of Christ are also called a ROCK (Mat 7:24; Luke 6:48), and 3) The good confession that Jesus is the Christ, as made by Peter, is a ROCK (Mat 16:18). Any one of which works to understand the wisdom of the Rock Badger. Let’s begin by using the reference that most closely matches the illustration, that of “BUILDING OUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK” as used in Mat 7:24-29.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” (Mat 7:24).

From this passage we see the first part, RAISE you house upon a Rock. Every builder knows that every building needs a firm foundation to protect it from shifting sand, torrential rains, tempestuous winds and crashing flood waters. The conies found protection for their weakness in the strong rock homes. The sayings of Christ offer us protection from being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Eph 4:14).

Our world is full of error and sophistry. By building our spiritual house upon the sayings of Christ, we can find protection from these troublesome winds of false doctrine.

The next thing we see is the necessity of being doers of the word and not hearers only. The builder that lost his house was like one that heard and did them not. True followers of Christ are OBEDIENT to His word. In this is our love for Him demonstrated; “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1John 5:3; John 14:15). Before speaking about building on the Rock, Jesus had asked, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

It still amazes me every time a supposed follower of Christ tells me it’s unnecessary to keep the commands of God.

Third, CHRIST is our spiritual ROCK. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1Cor 10:4). In another passage, CHRIST is called the CHIEF CORNER STONE of God’s holy temple, (Eph 2:19-22). “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Building on the CHIEF CORNERSTONE is to build on His teachings, His doctrine, His sayings. (cf, 2Jno 9)

The fourth thing to note about building our house on the ROCK, is that we are to KEEP building. We are to continue to build, mature, and to grow. Paul wrote the church to take heed how we build, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” (1Cor 3:9-15).

Let us learn from the wisdom of the ROCK Badger, although we are weak, we can be safe and secure on the ROCK which is Christ, His sayings and the good confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.                                                       Amen.