Ravi Zacharais tells the story of a time he visited the Ohio State University for a series of lectures. While being transported by cab he was informed by the driver that Ohio State boasted of the first post-modern building in America. When asked to explain what that meant, the driver further informed that the design of the building had no purpose behind it. There were pillars that stood in support of nothing and stairways that went nowhere. The design was intended to illustrate the post-modernist stream of thought that removes meaning from life and assumes all of life is, in essence without purpose, sense or direction.
Dr. Zacharais asked one simple question of his driver: “Was the foundation included in this purposeless, capricious design?” He notes that there was a long silence and no answer. In his own words, Dr. Zacharias responds, “You see, you and I can fool with the infrastructure as much as we would like, but we dare not fool with the foundation because it will call our bluff in a hurry.”
You and I know well the truth behind what Dr. Zacharias is saying! Without a firm foundation in life we are left to be tossed upon the debris of wreckage that comes as the storms blow and the winds assail! Many of us are facing this truth now, or we have recently faced this truth in life. We have faced loss of income, jobs, relationships, etc. This “loss narrative” that has developed over the past few years seems to be a daily occurrence for ourselves or someone we know. We see the debris and wreckage all around us and we wonder, “How am I ever going to get through this. How have I even endured to this point.”
It is at that point, it is in those moments, when we begin to recognize that we are stable because and only because of the sure foundation Christ has provided! In fact, this foundation is so central to the Christian story that the metaphor which describes it becomes one of, if not the most, dominant metaphors to describe Christ in the entire New Testament. It is, of course, the metaphor which describes Christ as the “cornerstone.”
What a powerful word and even more powerful word picture. In modern times we don’t really understand how essential a cornerstone was to the hearers in Christ’s day.
Most of the cornerstones we see today are ceremonial in nature. They are decorative and they stand out on buildings as a symbol rather than as a foundation. But, in ancient times (when concrete slabs were not the norm) the corner stone was the most important part of the foundation of the building! It was not only the first stone laid in the foundation, but it was also the stone upon which all the other stones were set and the rest of the foundation was dependent upon this primary, initial stone. The cornerstone, therefore, had to be perfect. If it was off at all, then the entire rest of the structure would be flawed!
Now one may ask, so what? What does this have to do with me and my walk with Christ? It is a fair question … particularly in a modern context where we have little knowledge of God’s Word and even less of ancient construction practices. The implications, however, are immense. They are literally life-changing. For, you see, Christ calls Himself the cornerstone. He is the stone upon which all of life is built. For those who believe He becomes the cornerstone upon whom our lives are built and to whom we are connected. He becomes our foundation! Yes, you heard that right. Christ is our foundation. No matter what may come, our foundation is sure to hold and certain to stand because it is not built by our own hands or through our own will. Our foundation is built by God himself – thus, it is unshakable!
If Christ, as our cornerstone, is our foundation, then He must also be our Formation. For you see, the house is built in, and only in, relationship to the cornerstone. So, Christ not only holds us, but He also grows us. Is there really a better place to be in this world than upon the foundation of Christ as our cornerstone? Is there any more reliable trust for our growth than the trust that is Christ Himself? In a world that seeks to form us at every turn, is it not the most tremendous of blessings and benefits to know that we can and are formed in Christ Himself? This means that there is always, always hope! There is always a tomorrow.
We are founded upon and formed in Christ as cornerstone! Bring it on, world! Do your worst … for our God has already done His best and as such, our foundation holds and our formation is certain! Join us this Sunday as we look at Luke 20 and the parable in which Christ divides all of life around the truth that He is the Chief Cornerstone!
See you Sunday!
Biz
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