"The Cornerstone"

“The Cornerstone”

 

So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, the Stone that the builders rejected---this One has become the Cornerstone, and a Stone to stumble over, and a Rock to trip over.  They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.              1 Peter 2:7-8

 

Those who BELIEVE consider Christ PRECIOUS and of EXTREME VALUE to them.  He is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE of the ETERNAL CHURCH of the LIVING GOD, which is made up of ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, from ALL over the world.  These TRUE BELIEVERS are considered to be LIVING STONES and they are built upon the CHIEF CORNERSTONE, Jesus Christ. 

 

The Apostle Peter may have been thinking back to his conservation with the Lord, when Jesus told him:  “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build My Church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.”  (Mat. 16:18).   In this conversation with Peter, the Lord Jesus said “I WILL build My Church, this is speaking in a future tense.  Jesus was telling Peter that He would build His Church on the Chief Cornerstone, which is Jesus Christ Himself.  And the FORCES of Hades will NOT overpower it.  The ‘gates of Hades’ refers to physical death.  Jesus was saying that His physical death would NOT prevent the building of His Church.  He would and is building His Church.

 

To the BELIEVER, the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE to the building of the ETERNAL CHURCH of the LIVING GOD.  However to the UNBELIEVER, the CHIEF CORNERSTONE is a STUMBLING STONE or a ROCK to TRIP over.  This is because of their UNBELIEF.  To REJECT Jesus Christ is a SPIRITUALLY FATAL thing to do.  It is a part of being DISOBEDIENT to God’s message, His Word.  And to do this is SPIRITUAL SUICIDE.  The UNBELIEVER, who is being DISOBEDIENT to God’s Word and REJECTING His Son, the Chief Cornerstone, will one day face Him as the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.  And the Chief Cornerstone will become for them a “STUMBLING” STONE, which will hurl them headlong into an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.

 

So is JESUS your CHIEF CORNERSTONE or your STUMBLING STONE?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are being DISOBEDIENT to Him, and you are REJECTING His Son, the Chief Cornerstone.  You are DESTINED for an ETERNITY in HELL.  In order for Jesus to become your CHIEF CORNERSTONE and NOT your STUMBLING STONE, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be one of His LIVING STONES, built on the CHIEF CORNERSTONE, and be a part of His Church, with an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!