Once a Withering Blade of Grass but Now a Living Stone
On a “sun-shiny” day just a few days back, I found myself on a road trip, one that held the promise of a hug at the end of the six-hour journey. Since others had to work, this journey was mine to drive alone, and if you know me, then you know how I LOVE to DRIVE!
So, after an early-morning appointment, I left the house with the intentions to hug my daughter at the end of the six-hour trip. Now, when driving alone, there are many “views” that can occupy a person’s mind. The Silent conversations with other drivers on the road & Spoken statements about the beauty found along the highways & Sung lyrics heard only by God are the ways one can spend her time as she speeds along the freeway.
If you know me, then you also know that I enjoy rocks—all kinds of rocks. Rock walls, Rock gardens, Rock roads, & Rocks carried. The apostle Peter speaks about “living stones” (i.e. rocks) in his letter, and on the long drive a few days ago, I found myself thinking about Saint Peter and about rocks (i.e. stones) as I fell in behind the most beautiful sight: a tractor trailer pulling a large load of cage-after-cage of (you guessed it)—ROCKS!
There were so many rocks: beautiful rocks too large to carry and tiny rocks small enough to place in one’s pocket.
Furthermore, if you know me, then you also know that beyond my love of rocks, I also love to lead the way on the freeways, but on this day, I could not resist the urge to follow this pretty truck of (you guessed it)—STONES!
At this juncture, please do not believe the ramblings of me but believe only the Word of God. Please pick up your Bible and let us read this Scripture together.
“For,
(1 Peter 1: 24-25 to 2: 1-5 NASB)
ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE
THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD
ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and slander.
and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word;
so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.
if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
When we consider our earthly bodies, we truly are pretty fragile because we can become trampled upon & injured so quickly. Yes, Peter knew “what” we were in comparison to “Whose” we were—Almighty God’s.
Once a Withering Blade of Grass—we were destined to fade away and to die.
Nevertheless, when we consider our spiritual souls, because of Jesus Christ, we have become a Living Stone & we are now promised eternal life!
We have been changed from a weak, withering, blade of grass, once destined to die & now we have become “living stones, [and together we] are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
- WOW!
- DOUBLE WOW!
- “WOW” DOES NOT EVEN EXPRESS THE DEPTH OF AWE THIS THOUGHT BRINGS!
“living stones”
“being built”
“as a spiritual house”
“for a holy priesthood”
“to offer”
“spiritual sacrifices”
“that are acceptable to God”
“through Jesus Christ”
We have been changed at the moment of our salvation from this to that, from a blade of grass that lives and then dies—to—“a living stone” that has been given spiritual life—ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST DID UPON THE CROSS & WITHIN THE TOMB!
TRULY, “WOW” DOES NOT EVEN EXPRESS THE DEPTH OF AWE THIS THOUGHT BRINGS!
- Therefore, as “living stones” we are to “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and slander.”
- Furthermore, as “living stones” we are also to “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word; so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
- Because we “have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
- Moreover, “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,”
- Since we who have believed in and received God’s gift of salvation are “also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood,”
- Thus, we have one acceptable avenue to walk: “to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
“For this is contained in Scripture:
(1 Peter 2: 6-9 NASB)
BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION
A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS
CORNERSTONE,
AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES
IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT
TO SHAME.”
This precious value, then, is for you who believe, but for unbelievers,
“A STONE WHICH THE
BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF
CORNERSTONE.”
And,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND
A ROCK OF OFFENSE” ;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word,
and to this they also appointed.
But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal
PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR
GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim
the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light; . . .”
May we be serious in “Whose” & “what” we have become in JESUS!