Lesson for the Lord’s Day
The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head of the corner. Psalm 118:22
If you have ever built a house, a garage, or other structure, you have no doubt run into problems in which some of the necessary materials were not on hand. Perhaps you ran out of nails, or found there were not enough studs for the walls, or you were missing some of the joist hangers. These are common problems, and even experienced carpenters and builders run into them occasionally. But there are some things that even an experienced builder would never start a project without. Unless the foundation was right, the builder would never venture to put anything on it. Our eternal welfare must also be built on a good foundation, with the correct cornerstone in place.
The Jews thought they were building well for eternity. But they rejected the Cornerstone. They didn’t just ignore Him, they did everything they could to exclude Him, even to having Him crucified. Their building was flawed beyond hope because the cornerstone is missing. Their hope for eternity was based on a design that could not work. There was a time when our lives were the same.
Before we were saved, some of us had a form of religion. But the house of religion does not even have a provision for the Cornerstone. It has plenty of place for ritual, for works, for traditions, and for pride. Religion builds a fancy house, but it cannot stand for eternity; it has no cornerstone. Good works also lacks the provision of a cornerstone, despite its great achievements in the annals of mankind. The same goes for good neighbourliness, good citizenship, and good friendship. These all have the footing course of self and pride, and nothing for the Cornerstone that alone can allow our house to endure for eternity.
Israel as a nation and people will acknowledge the Lord Jesus as the Head of the corner. That is part of God’s great plan for His earthly people. That wonderful time will come, despite the nation’s lengthy rejection that persists into our day. But the Lord Jesus is not waiting until that time to claim His place as Head of the corner. Among those who have received Him, He holds that position now. Among little companies that gather to His Name, He holds that position now. As believers, we acknowledge that everything we have and are for eternity is based on Him and Him alone. As Assemblies that gather to His name, everything is based on His presence, His lordship, and His provision.
The One Who is the Head of the corner deserves our praise and appreciation as we recognize what He has done for us. – Jim MacIntosh