It
happens every Sunday in churches everywhere.
The word is opened, read and preached.
People hear it. But all those
people do not hear the same thing. Some
hear words of life that nourish their souls or encourage their hearts. Some hear the word that perhaps convicts them
of their sin, brings them to repentance and brings them closer to Jesus. But some hear that same word and are
offended, or are bored, or see it as childish or irrelevant to their lives.
Those who
heard Isaiah’s message rejected him and his word. They scoffed at him saying his words were
childish gibberish (Is 28: 9-10). In
response God said because you reject my word from my prophet, you will hear
that same word, but this time it will be from the mouths from foreign enemies,
and upon that same word you will stumble backwards and be broken (Is
28:11-13).
To one,
the simple word of God brings life. To
the other, the very same word of God brings destruction.
At its core the gospel message is
simple. God’s way of salvation is not
complicated or hidden. Moses reminded
God’s people of this trust as they made final preparation to enter the Promise
Land. “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you,
neither is it far off……..But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so
that you can do it. “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and
evil. If you obey the commandments of
the LORD your God that I command you today…… then
you shall live”. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear…… you shall
surely perish. (Deuteronomy 30:11-18)
Jesus put it this way: “Everyone then who hears
these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house
on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the
rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be
like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the
floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and
great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
As you
prepare for worship this week I encourage you to read Isaiah 28. The central verse of this passage is verse
16: “therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold,
I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a
precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in
haste.’” The New Testament writers
understood that Isaiah was talking about Christ, so Jesus, Paul and Peter all
quote this verse.
Peter
understood that for some Jesus is the cornerstone, for others Jesus is the rock
of stumbling and offense. “For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion
a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will
not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do
not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” (1 Peter 2:6-8)
Which is he for you?
My prayer for us is that as we
gather for worship this Sunday every one of us will be able to join in this
song of testimony and sing of our Cornerstone:
My hope is built on nothing less
han Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly trust in Jesus' Name.
Christ alone cornerstone;
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love;
Through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil;
My anchor holds within the veil.
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless stand before the throne.
Christ alone cornerstone;
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love;
Through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all.
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