7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone,” 8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
We who believe can readily see this metaphor of the precious stone as picturing our Lord Jesus Christ. The image lingers in the minds of all appreciative souls. Life is filled with many valuable things, but we most often think of precious gemstones that are prized primarily for their beauty and value. In the ancient world, the list of valuables included gold (the most precious and valuable), silver, pearls, rubies, and many other gemstones. Today, diamonds top the list. The Star of Africa I is the largest clear-cut diamond in the world, weighing 530.4 carats and set on the royal scepter of Britain, treasured in Buckingham Palace in London, England. Its value is considered priceless. By comparison, the Hope Diamond, housed in the Smithsonian Institute at 67 carats, is considered to be worth $250 million. Many a bride carries on her finger a diamond, though of smaller size, yet nonetheless precious to her.
Above all that is precious of earthly value, to believers, nothing can compare with the pricelessness of Christ. The popular chorus says it well:
Lord, You are more precious than silver.
Lord, You are more costly than gold.
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, and
Nothing I desire compares with You.
How is it then that most people are blind to this and reject Christ? Picture a mason building a wall, picking up a brick, and tossing it aside after a superficial glance. He may throw it away in anger and disgust at what he thinks is an inferior product from the building supply store. He may even be offended that his supplier has tried to pass off low-grade, sub-standard bricks to make an extra buck, thinking the mason wouldn’t notice the ruse. Or maybe the mason simply throws the brick aside without thinking. Whatever the reason, the brick is rejected. Imagine now another bricklayer seeing the brick and making it the very first one to be laid in his wall, his building, his temple.
The supreme irony of all creation, of all time, is this: that which the world has consummately rejected is the very cornerstone of what God is doing in the world. When a person rejects Christ, all is lost.
Lord, I proclaim to You that Your Son Jesus is absolutely precious to me, more than anything else I have.
Hi Chuck. I have recently been reading your devotionals more faithfully than in the past. Thank you for them. For today’s I just wanted to point out that you should probably have added the word “Western” (or other qualifying word) before ‘bride’ at the end of the first paragraph. I’m not sure how many cultures practise the diamond (engagement) ring tradition but it certainly isn’t ‘virtually every’ one.
Carl, thanks for the feedback. I will change the wording to be more universal. Blessings, Chuck.