It seems as if houses are being built on every possible site — in rural areas, between existing houses, in large gardens — anywhere where permission can be obtained! Sometimes it is a one-off house, while others build estates of houses. The builders vary in size from one-man businesses to multinational concerns. The materials differ also. Some are brick; others block; some are timber framed; some have PVC window frames; others have wooden frames. The possible variations are almost innumerable.
There is one building project that is going on silently. Men have little idea that it is happening. The building when finished will be immense. The expense has been tremendous. Yet the materials used are very poor. They are the very worst possible!
Jesus Christ, God’s Son said, “I will build my church,” Matthew 16v18. This building commenced on the day of Pentecost as taught in Acts chapter 2. That was about the year AD33. This project has been ongoing since then. Peter states, “Ye also, as lively (living) stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1Peter 2v5. This structure is being built of people who are called “living stones”. They rest exclusively on Christ who is the Living Stone. Multitudes have been built in already and the building will soon reach completion.
Such an immense structure must have a tremendous foundation, and so it has! 1Corinthians 3v11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2v20, “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone”. The Person of the eternal Son of God and His redemptive work upon Calvary’s cross is the only basis upon which this edifice can be built. No human effort, no religion, no attendance upon religious devotions, no zeal on the part of man can ever be the foundation upon which this can be built. His precious blood is the only price, nothing else will do. He only is the rock and to build on anything else is foolishness. Matthew 7v24-27, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Edward Mote wrote, “On Christ, the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
The material used is found in sin’s quarry. Paul went into the city of Corinth and began to work for God. Soon souls were saved and added, by God, as living stones. Were they the nice, respectable, good-living folk of the city? Here is how he described them, “… Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1Corinthians 6v9-11.
Dear reader, what God did for them He can do for you if you will repent and trust His Son who died for sinners upon the cross of Calvary.
We wait the completion of the building and then Christ will come and take it to be forever with Himself in the glory of heaven. Will you be ready when He comes?
On Christ salvation rests secure; The Rock of Ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown, Which rests upon the “Living Stone”.