“THE CORNERSTONE!”

Acts 4:5-12                                   (ESV)

“[5] On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, [6] with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” [8] Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, [9] if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, [10] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom GOD raised from the dead—by HIM this man is standing before you well. [11] This JESUS is the STONE that was REJECTED BY YOU, the builders, which has become “THE CORNERSTONE”. [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN by which we must be saved.””

Painting has never been something that I was blessed with.  Maybe it is the patience or attention to detail, I simply don’t have what is needed to be able to express myself adequately through artwork.  There are many names, ways, or things that various people try to inject into our lives to satisfy what many SEE as necessary.  Wealth, activities, physical health, power or position, and the list could on indefinitely, tend to consume our minds as we endeavor to succeed in “this world”.  

But “this world” is NOT our eternal destination.  Our conversations and mindsets hardly ever are about where we will spend our eternity, as if our existence on earth is our destiny?  But JESUS CHRIST is “THE CORNERSTONE” that EVERYTHING in life should be built around.  Not illnesses, nor family, nor earthly possessions, ALL of which are temporary and WILL cease to be in the end!  

So why are we so easily convinced place worldly “things” ahead of the HEAVENLY things?  Our “natural” beings simply aren’t equipped to SEE the ETERNAL TRUTHS unless our EYES ARE OPENED supernaturally by the ONLY ONE WHO is capable of doing so.  “THE CORNERSTONE” is the ONLY WAY our entire lives will ever be able to understand what we need to for HIS GLORY!  We are incapable of removing guilt and sins from our past.  Only JESUS is able to do that!

Peter was a poor fisherman prior to JESUS opening his EYES.  He was used in a mighty way for the GLORY of GOD, but most definitely NOT the way Peter might have imagined?  Our lives are NOT to be lived as though we “have all of the answers”.  We are to WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT and rely on “THE CORNERSTONE” to deliver our needs, not ourselves!