Precious Cornerstone

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,” (1Peter 2:7)

To those “which believe” Jesus is precious.  We believe on His Name, His work, and His Word. We trust our life to Him.  And we stake our eternity on Him. And because we have, He has changed us from mere humans to royalty, children of the king. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:” (1Peter 2:9). We are now the people of God. “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1Peter 2:10) Strangers and pilgrims of this world because this world belongs to another kingdom, which is not God’s kingdom, but belongs to the devil. (1John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 12:21 and many more)

Many times, we are commanded that as children of God we are not to have anything to do with the world. But it’s enticing and draws our hearts away from the preciousness of Jesus. It’s the lust of eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1Jn 2:16) Like Eve, we see its deceiving beauty. We touch it and don’t die. The flesh wants it.  The world has it and enjoys it, why can’t we?  But if we taste of it, we are doomed. Anything of the world is forbidden.  Name it. Name whatever would draw you away from Jesus.  What would keep you away from worshipping Him, from communion with Him and a life of piety with Him? Would you abandon Jesus for the temporal pleasures of this world? Paul said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

Jesus is too precious. The Geek word is “timē .” The payment, for our lives and of the highest degree valuable. We unable to put a value on Jesus because He is beyond anything of value here on earth. When Jesus was to be presented to the Lord according to the Law of Moses a man named Simeon who was promised of the Lord that he wouldn’t die until he saw the “consolation of Israel” that Jeremiah prophesied about (Luke 2:25-32), called Him “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) He is our life and the light in us. (John 1:4) Jesus said, “For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” (John 6:33) He is our sustenance of life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.” (John 6:47-48)

The disobedient are the unbelievers. They love this world, and the world loves them, but they don’t have the love of the Father. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1John 2:15) Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19)

When Peter and John were called before the Council at Jerusalem, they boldly proclaimed Jesus, the only salvation and the only way to the Father as the cornerstone they rejected. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” (Acts 4:10-11) Jesus called Himself the cornerstone. “And have ye not read this Scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:10-11) Peter explains how this is. All believers, before, now and in the future are saints and belong to the family of God.  Our faith is founded on the teachings of Jesus on Whom all things rest, and He upholds all things. “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:3) When we worship together, we form this holy temple which God inhabits (Psalm 22:3). “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22).  This is the importance of worship in our gatherings. “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)