Stones in God's hand

My father had a passion for building. He not only renovated three rooms in our house, but also built a wishing well and a grotto in our garden. I remember watching him build a tall stone wall when I was a little boy. Did you know that our Heavenly Father is also a builder, working on a wonderful building? The Apostle Paul wrote that true Christians are “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. Through him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.” (Eph 2,20–22).

The Apostle Peter described Christians as living stones: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1. Petr 2,5)What is this all about? Are you aware that, like a stone, each of us is assigned a specific place in the walls of God's building upon our conversion? This image offers numerous spiritually inspiring analogies, which we will explore below.

The foundation of our faith

The foundation of a building is of crucial importance. If it is not stable and resilient, the entire building risks collapsing. Similarly, a special group of people forms the foundation of God's building. Their teachings are of central importance and form the basis of our faith: "Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets." (Eph 2,20)This refers to the apostles and prophets of the New Testament. However, this does not mean that they themselves constituted the foundations of the church. In fact, Christ is the foundation: "For no one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1. Kor 3,11), In the Offenbarung 21,14The apostles are associated with the twelve foundation stones of the holy Jerusalem.

Just as a construction expert ensures that the structure matches its foundation, our religious beliefs should also match the foundation of our forefathers. If the apostles and prophets were to come to us today, our Christian beliefs would have to agree with theirs. Is your faith actually based on the contents of the Bible? Do you base your beliefs and values ​​on what the Bible says, or are you influenced by third-party theories and opinions? The Church should not rely on modern thinking, but on the spiritual heritage left to us by the first apostles and prophets.

Connected to the cornerstone

The cornerstone is the most important part of a foundation. It gives a building stability and cohesion. Jesus is described as this cornerstone. He is a chosen and precious stone, absolutely reliable. Whoever trusts in him will not be disappointed: “See, I lay a cornerstone in Zion, a chosen and precious stone, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe, he is precious; but to those who do not believe, he is the stone the builders rejected. It has become the cornerstone, a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall away. They stumble over it because they do not believe the word—to which they were also destined.” (1. Petrus 2,6-8).
Peter quotes in this context Jesaja 28,16...and thus clarifies that Christ's role as the cornerstone was foretold in Scripture. He points to God's plan for Christ: to give Him this unique position. What about you? Does Jesus have this special place in your life? Is He number one in your life and does He form its core?

community among each other

Stones rarely stand alone. They connect with the cornerstone, the foundation, the roof, and other walls. They are interconnected and together form the impressive wall: "And Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. In him the whole building grows, joined together... and in him [in Jesus] you also are being built together." (Eph 2,20–22).

If a large number of stones were removed from a building, it would collapse. The relationship between Christians should be as strong and intimate as that of the stones in a building. A single stone cannot form an entire building or a wall. It is in our nature not to live in isolation, but in community. Are you committed to working with other Christians to create a magnificent dwelling place for God? Mother Theresa put it well: “You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you can't do. “Together we can achieve great things.” Warm relationships with one another are as sacred and essential as our fellowship with God. Our spiritual life depends on it, and the only way to show people our love for God and God's actual love for us is through our love for one another, as Andrew Murray pointed out.

The uniqueness of every Christian

Nowadays, bricks are mass-produced and all look the same. In contrast, natural stone walls have individual stones of varying sizes and shapes: some are large, some small, and some medium-sized. Christians, too, were not created to be alike. It is not God's intention that we all look, think, and act the same. Rather, we represent a picture of diversity in harmony. We all belong to the same wall, and yet we are unique. Likewise, a body has different members: "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1. Kor 12,12).

Some people are reserved, others are sociable or outgoing. Some church members are task-oriented, others are relationship-oriented. We should strive to follow Christ, growing in faith and knowledge. But just as our DNA is unique, there is no one exactly like us. Each of us has a special mission. Some are called to encourage others. Other Christians are a great support by listening sensitively and thus enabling others to share their burden. A large stone may support a lot of weight, but a small stone is just as important because it fills a gap that would otherwise remain open. Do you ever feel insignificant? Remember that God has specifically chosen you to be an indispensable stone in his building.

Our ideal place

When my father built, he carefully examined every stone before him. He searched for the perfect stone to place next to or on top of another. If it didn't fit exactly, he continued searching. Sometimes he chose a large, square stone, sometimes a small, round one. Sometimes he shaped a stone with a hammer and chisel until it fit perfectly. This approach is reminiscent of the words: "But God has placed the parts in the body, each one of them, just as he wanted them to be." (1. Kor 12,18).

After laying a stone, my father would step back to inspect his work. If he was satisfied, he would firmly set the stone in the wall before choosing the next. In this way, the chosen stone became part of the whole: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1. Kor 12,27).

During the construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, the stones were quarried and brought to the Temple site: "When the house was built, the stones were already completely prepared, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool was heard during the construction of the house." (1. Könige 6,7)The stones were already shaped into the desired form in the quarry and then transported to the temple construction site, so that no additional shaping or adjustment of the stones was necessary on site.

Likewise, God created each Christian uniquely. God chose a place for each of us individually in His creation. Every Christian, whether "low" or "high," has the same value before God. He knows exactly where our ideal place is. What an honor to be part of God's building project! It's not just any building, but a holy temple: "He will grow into a holy temple in the Lord." (Eph 2,21)He is holy because God dwells in him: “Through him (Jesus) you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (verse 22).

In the Old Testament, God resided in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Today he lives in the hearts of those who have accepted Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior. Each of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit; Together we form the church of God and represent Him on earth. As the supreme builder, God takes complete responsibility for our spiritual construction. Just as my Father carefully selects each stone, God selects each of us for His divine plan. Can our fellow human beings recognize the divine holiness in us? The big picture is not just the work of one individual, but that of all who allow themselves to be shaped and guided by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

by Gordon Green

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