96 Cornerstone
The builders were slowly but steadily building the temple of God. Since the sound of the chisel was forbidden at the site, all work had to be done at the quarry. The stone slabs were then transported to the site and fitted together so perfectly that no mortar was required.
In one batch of the stone slabs sent to the temple site, the builders received a stone with an unusual shape. It didn't seem that it would fit with any of the other stones, so the builders tossed it aside, assuming it was a defect brought to them by accident. They continued building without much thought for that stone.
At one point during construction, the builders realized they did not have the cornerstone. The cornerstone was vital to the temple, because it was key in holding up the foundation of the temple. Without the cornerstone, the temple could not stand and be completed.
The builders sent word the quarry requesting the cornerstone be sent to them immediately. However, word came from the quarry that the cornerstone was already sent to the builders. As the builders were searching around the site for the misplaced cornerstone, one of the builders remembered the unusual stone. Could that odd stone be the cornerstone? The builders immediately went to search for the stone they had previously discarded. The stone they had cast aside had rolled down a hill and was lying in a pile of rubble.
The builders carefully cleaned up the stone and hauled it up the hill to the temple. The stone fit perfectly! That unusual stone was the chief cornerstone the builders were looking for.
The world did not recognize Jesus when He came to earth, but Jesus had come to save everyone in the world. Don't throw the Gospel message aside, but rather, build your life upon the foundation of Jesus!
- Recommended reading: Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 21:42, 1 Peter 2:6-7
