“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22).

In Isiah 28:16 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

The comparison of Jesus to the rock is so beautiful and Jesus goes on to explain how we will be saved if we trust in Him. Through a parable in Mathew 7:24 Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

We see throughout the New Testament Jesus performing many miracles. He heals the blind, the dumb, the deaf and the broken hearted. He brings back to life the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow and his dear friend Lazarus. These are the people who believed in Jesus and placed their trust on this rock. They made Jesus as their foundation and they reaped in hundred folds.  On the other hand we also see situations where the Jews reject this rock and were always looking for an opportunity to bring down Jesus and it is to these people Jesus and later Peter and St Paul goes on to say that Jesus is the stone rejected by the builder which now has become the corner stone.  One can only assume how their life would have turned out after rejecting the Lord.

The present day scenario is not different from the times of the Bible. We often hear and read the testimonies of people, who goes on to testify how their faith in this rock delivered them from adversities, sickness etc. We also have too many examples of people who have rejected this rock and tried to find salvation in what the world has to offer us.

If only we like the wise man in the parable build our house on this solid rock called Jesus will we be able to survive the storms of life.

The current world provides lot of temptations and short cuts to be successful in life. The lives of people who have turned to money, drugs, other Gods and all the temptations that the world has to offer has never been successful. This can be substantiated through the many instances in the bible and in our own family, friends and neighbours.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2) “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God” (Psalm 18:31)

Is this Jesus our rock and foundation? Now is the time for us to pause for a few minutes and reflect. Are we like the foolish man who built his house on the sand? Are we falling prey to the temptations of this world and going nowhere? Or are we like the wise man who built his house on the stone and the rain and the wind could not destroy the house. Are we trusting Jesus our rock and foundation to lead us the right way and to provide for us?

Kathaline