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The Desire of Ages
stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble
at the word, being disobedient.”
1 Peter 2:3-8
.
To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These are they
who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and faith
in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to
give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of
a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving
love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ
as our foundation.
Upon this living stone, Jews and Gentiles alike may build. This is
the only foundation upon which we may securely build. It is broad
enough for all, and strong enough to sustain the weight and burden of
the whole world. And by connection with Christ, the living stone, all
who build upon this foundation become living stones. Many persons
are by their own endeavors hewn, polished, and beautified; but they
cannot become “living stones,” because they are not connected with
Christ. Without this connection, no man can be saved. Without the
life of Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of temptation. Our
eternal safety depends upon our building upon the sure foundation.
Multitudes are today building upon foundations that have not been
tested. When the rain falls, and the tempest rages, and the floods come,
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their house will fall, because it is not founded upon the eternal Rock,
the chief cornerstone Christ Jesus.
“To them which stumble at the word, being disobedient,” Christ is
a rock of offense. But “the stone which the builders disallowed, the
same is made the head of the corner.” Like the rejected stone, Christ
in His earthly mission had borne neglect and abuse. He was “despised
and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: ...
He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”
Isaiah 53:3
. But the time
was near when He would be glorified. By the resurrection from the
dead He would be declared “the Son of God with power.”
Romans 1:4
.
At His second coming He would be revealed as Lord of heaven and
earth. Those who were now about to crucify Him would recognize His
greatness. Before the universe the rejected stone would become the
head of the corner.
And on “whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
The people who rejected Christ were soon to see their city and their
nation destroyed. Their glory would be broken, and scattered as the