The Cornerstone: Building Our Lives on Christ

In the tumultuous landscape of our world, where foundations seem to shift like sand beneath our feet, there's an invitation to discover an unshakeable truth – a cornerstone upon which we can build our lives. This cornerstone isn't a concept or a philosophy, but a person: Jesus Christ.

The imagery of a cornerstone takes us back to ancient construction methods, where the first stone laid determined the alignment, integrity, and direction of the entire building. It wasn't merely decorative; it was foundational. In the same way, Jesus isn't meant to be an accessory to our lives, but the very foundation upon which everything else is built.

This truth echoes through the words of the apostle Peter, who wrote to believers facing severe persecution under Roman Emperor Nero. Despite the looming threat of martyrdom, Peter encouraged them to press on, proclaiming the gospel and anchoring their hope in Christ. His message resonates just as powerfully today as we navigate our own challenges and uncertainties.

Peter describes Jesus as the "living stone" – a paradoxical term that beautifully captures the essence of who Christ is. In a world full of dead idols and false hopes, Jesus stands as the one who conquered death and offers true life. As we come to Him, something remarkable happens: we too become "living stones," being built into a spiritual house.

This spiritual house isn't a physical structure, but the community of believers indwelt by God's presence. No longer confined to a temple on a hill, God now dwells within His people. We are being shaped and fitted together, not haphazardly, but with divine precision and purpose.

Here's a profound thought: right now, we are in the quarry of life. Just as ancient stones were meticulously chiseled far from the temple site before being perfectly placed, we too are being shaped by our circumstances, challenges, and even our suffering. God is using every experience – the joys and the pains – to form us into the image of Christ and prepare us for our place in His eternal kingdom.

This process of formation isn't always comfortable. It involves breaking – the breaking of our pride, our self-sufficiency, our misplaced allegiances. But it's in this very breaking that we find true wholeness. As Jesus himself said, "Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him." There's an invitation here: to surrender ourselves fully to Christ, allowing Him to reshape us, rather than face the crushing weight of judgment later.

Our identity in Christ isn't meant to be hidden away, but to shine brightly in the world around us. Peter reminds us that we are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession." Why? So that we may "proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Our lives should be like those memorial stones erected in the Old Testament – prompting others to ask, "What happened here?" giving us the opportunity to share how God has redeemed and transformed us.

This calling comes with a sobering reminder: we are "strangers and exiles" in this world. Our true citizenship is in God's kingdom, and we mustn't get too comfortable here. This perspective should shape how we live, compelling us to "abstain from sinful desires that wage war against your soul" and to "conduct yourselves honorably."

The authenticity of our faith matters. There's a poignant story from 1805, where a Native American chief responded to a missionary's gospel presentation by saying, "We will wait a while to see the effect of this news upon them." The world is indeed watching, waiting to see if the gospel we proclaim truly transforms our lives.

So, how do we measure the health of our spiritual lives and our faith communities? It's not about numbers or amenities, but about alignment with Christ, our cornerstone. Here are some probing questions to consider:

These questions challenge us both individually and collectively. Healthy stones make a healthy house, and each of us plays a vital role in the spiritual community God is building.

The beautiful promise woven throughout this message is that as we align ourselves with Christ, He doesn't shame us – He steadies us. When we fall upon Him in surrender, we find not condemnation, but transformation. He delights in taking ordinary, broken stones and crafting them into a beautiful living temple where His presence dwells and His glory is displayed.

Today, we stand at a crossroads. Will we treat Jesus as merely a decorative addition to our lives, or will we allow Him to be the defining cornerstone? Will we resist the chiseling work of God, or yield ourselves to His transforming touch?

In a world that often feels like shifting sand, there's an invitation to build our lives on the unshakeable foundation of Christ. It's a journey of surrender, of breaking and remaking, but it leads to a life of purpose, hope, and unshakeable security. As we yield ourselves to this process, may we become living stones that reflect the beauty and glory of our cornerstone, Jesus Christ.