Paul to the Corinthians
109
The precious stones represent the most perfect Christians, who
have been refined and polished by the grace of God, and by affliction
which they have endured with much prayer and patience. Their obe-
dience and love resemble those of the great Pattern. Their lives are
beautified and ennobled by self-sacrifice. They will endure the test of
the burning day, for they are living stones. “Him that overcometh will
I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.”
From worldly policy, many endeavor, by their own efforts, to
become as polished stones; but they cannot be living stones, because
they are not built upon the true foundation. The day of God will reveal
that they are, in reality, only wood, hay, and stubble. The great temple
of Diana was ruined; her magnificence utterly perished; those who
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shouted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” perished with their goddess
and the temple which enshrined her. Their religion is forgotten, or
seems like an idle tale. That temple was built upon a false foundation,
and when tried, it was found to be worthless. But the stones that Paul
quarried out from Ephesus were found to be precious and enduring.
Paul laid himself upon the true foundation, and brought every stone,
whether large or small, polished or unhewn, common or precious, to
be connected with the living foundation-stone, Christ Jesus. Thus
slowly ascended the temple of the church of God. The apostle says,
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
Paul had, in vision, a view of the city of God, with its foundations;
and he represents the true Christian converts to be gold, silver, and
precious stones. But the Jews made the work of Paul exceedingly
difficult. They were continually claiming to be the only true children of
Abraham, and therefore the only legitimate building-stones for God’s
house; and when the Gentiles accepted the gospel, and were brought
to the true foundation, the Jews murmured about this material. Thus
they hindered the work of God; nevertheless, the apostle unflinchingly
continued his labors.
Paul and his fellow-workmen were skillful architects, because they
had learned from Christ and his works. They had not only to build,
but to tear down. They had to contend with the bigotry, prejudice,
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and violence of men who had built upon a false foundation. Through
the power of God, the apostles became mighty in pulling down these