Thought for the Month - May 2016

"Cornerstone" by Barry Adair

I must confess that I never knew exactly what a cornerstone was. It seems that they are omitted by modern building practices so I guess that's why they don't tell you about it in school anymore. But at least we have Wikipedia now!

As the name suggests a cornerstone occupied one corner of a building but was much more important than you might think. It was an impressive and costly foundation stone and it would have been the first piece of masonry to be laid for a new building. Normally you wouldn't even have seen it after the building took shape around it. As its position and alignment was crucial for the whole structure, much care was needed in choosing it and siting it. And of course, as a major foundation stone, its strength and durability would have been paramount. Back then, a cornerstone was critical for any new major man-made structure.

Many cultures down through the ages have made use of a cornerstone in their large buildings and some of these required a sacrifice to be carried out before any was laid. As part of the ceremony an animal or sometimes even a human sacrifice was placed in the foundations, often on or under the cornerstone.

I was thinking about such a cornerstone this month after listening to a song - no guesses for its name! A couple of Bible passages also came to mind while I listened. One of these was from the book of Job and had always intrigued me. Its context is the foundation of the Earth…

Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set or who laid its Cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:5-7)

In this verse we get a brief glimpse at the Earth's creation using early construction terminology. Just like Job, we all should be in awe at the creation we witness every day and in its wonderful Creator.

The other verse I thought about was uttered by the Lord Jesus…

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes'?" Matthew 21:42

There is so much meaning in this one verse. I believe that it talks about the Jewish race and their rejection of Christ but also, on a personal level, it speaks to you and me. The Saviour which every true Jew longs for has already come! This is the salvation that was promised throughout scripture. Countless saints of old yearned for this time. It was this salvation of sinful mankind that the angels longed to look into. Jesus IS the Saviour for every man and woman - Jewish, Gentile, of every creed and colour. The foundation for all our lives is of upmost importance. Just like a building needs a firm and solid foundation, so do our lives. Even children know that a wise man builds his house upon a rock and not on shifting sand. Jesus is our Rock. When the rains and storms of life hit we need to be secure, secure in Him.

Jesus is our security, Jesus is our sufficiency and Jesus is our salvation…

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

The LORD says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious Cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.' Isaiah 28:16

Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of the Christian faith and it must remain aligned to Him. He is preeminent and pre-existing. The earth was made through Him and by Him. Without Him there is no way back to God. He is God the Son who became man to save mankind. He is the foundation of the church, a church which He bought with His own shed blood! Jesus Christ is the sure, firm, and everlasting foundation.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the Cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20

Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

Until next month (DV)…

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