“The Stumbling Stone Or the Precious Stone”

 “The Stumbling Stone Or the Precious Stone”

And, “He is the Stone that makes people stumble, the Rock that makes them fall.”  1 Peter 2:8

This verse of Scripture, is describing the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as a STUMBLING STONE that makes people STUMBLE, and a ROCK that makes them FALL.  The other day I took a little tumble, and I have the marks to attest to that fact.  I, however, did NOT trip over a STONE or FALL because of a ROCK, I just lost my balance, while bending down, and undoing my dog’s leash.  Anyway,  I want us to look at some IMPORTANT things concerning whether this STONE in our verse, is a STUMBLING STONE or a PRECIOUS STONE to YOU. 

To the UNBELIEVER, Jesus Christ is a STUMBLING STONE, and the ROCK that makes them FALL.  And they STUMBLE because they do NOT OBEY God’s Word, and they REBEL against His Ways.  They also REJECT His Plan of SALVATION made POSSIBLE through His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who came to SUFFER, BLEED, and DIED, but was RESURRECTED to LIFE, in order for MANKIND to be able to be FORGIVEN of their SINS and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after they are there.  

The reason, Jesus is a STUMBLING STONE, is because He carried out the plans of His Heavenly Father, the LORD GOD, ALMIGHTY, who SENT HIM to be the WAY out for mankind’s  SINS and SHORTCOMINGS.  In carrying out those plans He brings to LIGHT the SINFUL LIFESTYLE they are living.  And thus He becomes the ROCK that causes them to FALL, because they LOVE the DARKNESS MORE than they do the LIGHT, for the LIGHT exposes their SINS. And for those who decide to STAY in the DARKNESS and to CONTINUE in their SINS and UNBELIEF, they will meet the fate that was planned for them, which is; an ETERNAL SPIRITUAL DEATH, with HELL as their ETERNAL DESTINY.  

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, then JESUS is a PRECIOUS STONE to YOU.  This is because you have given your HEART and LIFE to Him.  And you are considered a part of GOD’S HOLY FAMILY.  One who is FORGIVEN, and CLEANSED from ALL of your INIQUITIES, and YOU will spend ALL of YOUR ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Because JESUS is YOUR SOLID ROCK, He will arm you with STRENGTH and He will make your way PERFECT.  So, is He your STUMBLING STONE or your PRECIOUS STONE?

In order for Him to be your PRECIOUS STONE, and your SOLID ROCK, you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  And you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM, your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION and let JESUS be your PRECIOUS STONE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!   DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!