Are You Building or Falling on the Rock?

I Peter 2:2-8

Several years ago, I worked on a farm where we raised hogs. With more than 150 breeding sows, baby pigs were an almost daily occurrence. I quickly learned that a healthy baby had only one interest at birth. He wanted to eat. Until his belly was full, nothing else mattered to him. I also learned that if food wasn’t received in a very short while, he would become weak, lose interest, and die within a an hour or so. It was essential that he be fed immediately. One who did not get food immediately and lost interest might require force feeding initially to survive. Once the initial hunger was satisfied, the urgency for food for survival was reduced a little, but they would fight even harder for their food. Piglets born prematurely usually do not have the same nursing instinct and have to be force fed for a while until it develops.

A new Christian should have a similar craving for spiritual food. Just like the baby pig, his survival as a Christian is dependent on receiving spiritual nourishment. If he doesn’t receive it, he will not grow, and will soon lose interest. Premies have no understanding of their need, and will need extra encouragement to survive until they understand their need. If they don’t discover the richness of God’s love, and learn to crave more, their survival is unlikely.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (I Peter 2:2-3)

Peter now changes to a different model, that of a house being built. The first stone, the chief cornerstone, is used to align every other stone. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of God’s building. Each Christian is measured and aligned with him to produce a satisfactory structure. While he has been refused by other builders he has been chosen of God to be the chief corner stone. We submit to God, as a living sacrifice, and allow him to align us properly with Christ, to build his church as it pleases him.

“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (I Peter 2:4-5)

Jesus Christ is the one who God has chosen. Acts 4:12 tells us, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” I Corinthians 3:11 tells us there can be no other foundation. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” This makes him very precious to those who believe.

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (I Peter 2:6-8)

Those who choose not to believe in Christ reject him as the cornerstone, refusing to be aligned to his standard. Instead, they try to adjust themselves to some other standard of their own choosing, often themselves. No house will stand well without a strong foundation, and as II Corinthians 10:12 tells us, using ourselves as the standard is not very smart. “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” There cannot be any other foundation than Christ.

Israel was one group who rejected Christ, choosing another standard, the Law. Romans 9:31-33 describes their plight. “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Building on any other basis will only collapse and cause embarrassment. Building on the basis of faith in Christ guarantees success. It is our choice. We can build on the rock or fall on it.