As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:4-6 ESV).
Living stones? Well that sounds kind of archaic. I mean, who builds with stones anymore? Homes have been built with them. Office buildings have been made of giant piles of stones. We don’t make storage sheds out of stones. Oh! You will find the occasional wall in some parts of the country, where stones are found in abundance, being fabricated using stones. Today, we usually build with very different materials, many of them manmade. We use concrete, brick and steel. We use wood or some recycled composite material. Seldom do we use stones extensively anymore.
So, why talk about the church in terms of stones or living stones? Even in the days of Christ, much of the building was done with brick formed from clay and baked. There are, of course, several reasons. First, stones are not manmade. They are of God. Second, stones will last much longer than the many manmade or fabricated materials that are used today. Just take a good hard look at the ancient ruins of various cultures. Most of the buildings or parts of buildings that were made from bricks and other material such as wood are gone, while the stone structures and statuary are still standing. Stone lasts and stands the test of time. Finally, though we could certainly mention others, each stone is unique. Each has its own shape, color, hardness, etc.
Similarly, the church is a God-created spiritual building that is designed to last and is made up of unique individuals who bring a set of unique skills and talents to the whole. It is granted life by God and continues to live as the men and women who rest on that cornerstone live each day and use their abilities and talents to glorify the name of God.
In this day, do not be content to “go to church,” as if it were some lifeless manmade structure used for worship. Be the church! Be a living stone right where you are, and give God the praise and the glory for all things.
