Stones can be found just about anywhere. They are in the backyard, the front yard, and even in the neighbors yard. Stones can be used in many variety of ways. A stone is a natural solid formation of one or many minerals. There are thousands of types of stones that have been quarried through the centuries. The familiar stone types that are used today are identified through four categories: Sedimentary, Metamorphic, Igneous and Man-made stone.
Sedimentary stones came from organic elements such as glaciers, rivers, wind, oceans, and plants. Tiny sedimentary pieces broke off from these elements and accumulated to form rock beds. They were bonded through millions of years of heat and pressure.
Metamorphic stones originate from a natural form of one type of stone to another type through the mixture of heat, pressure, and minerals. The change may be a development of a crystalline formation, a texture change, or a color change.
Igneous stones are mainly formed through volcanic material such as magma. Underneath the Earth's surface, liquid magma cooled and solidified. Mineral gases and liquids penetrated into the stone and created new crystalline formations with various colors.
Man-made stones are derived of unnatural mixtures such as resin or cement with the additive of stone chips. Agglomerate or Conglomerate: Marble chips embedded in a colored resin composition.
There are stone masons who make a living using stones, and there are precious stones. All stones are not the same quality. Stones are found in different shapes and sizes. When we speak of a stone, usually we think of something solid, heavy, and well put together. However, Harper's Bible Dictionary provides us with this meaning: "Any of a large variety of hardened natural inorganic, often mineral, substance." Just looking at a stone might not immediately reveal it's potential value, but once it is cleaned up and polished its appraised value may astound its owner.
In searching the Scriptures, you will find many symbolism using stones. The Bible makes many general references to "precious stones" and "jewels," most often as metaphors that represent value, wealth, beauty, durability, foundation, memorial, buildings, a heart of stone, towers, and walls. The law that was given to Moses by God was written in tables of stones. If a female was caught in adultery, she could have been stoned to death. A stone was placed at the mouth of Jesus' grave to keep the curious out and forbid His body from being taken. In the sermon of the mount Jesus said, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone" (Matthew 7:9).
Let's not forget the 12 stones of remembrance after Israel crossed over the Jordan river heading for the Promised Land. "Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day" (Joshua 4:9). Joshua taught the Israelites that the 12 stones were a memorial to the Lord and that every time they looked at the stones, they were to be reminded of God.
The word stone is also used figuratively of true followers of Jesus. Peter says, "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" (1 Peter 2:4-5).
In my life, I have encountered inorganic stones and some human stones. I can remember when I first heard Rev. Dr. M. L. King, Jr. speak. As I reflect upon that experience, I am able to say that I heard a living stone. His calling was to be a stone grounded in the Word of God, wrapped in compassion and love. He was a non-violent stone called to lead a movement that withstood the tragedy of that time. This stone thrust to the forefront, would confront a people who sought to dehumanize a race through "Jim Crow laws and regulations."
In 2011, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was immortalized in Stone. Although he was not a president, he now has his placed among them. People from all around the world gathered for celebration. They wanted to see the likeness of this man whose image is hewed out of stone. In the future, the Mall will witness men, women, and children who will pay respect to this giant whose works are known around the world, a visionary who gave his life for the pursuit of justice for all of God's people.
To be a Stone, you have to be able to endure the storm that comes your way and beats upon you, time after time. A Stone must be able to endure. In short the stone doesn't easily lose value, at the same time, let us consider that all stones are not of the same quality. Life has a way of chipping away from the stone as seasons comes and goes, but the stone continues to be a stone..
In light of what has already been said, let me tell you about Jesus, the Stone that was rejected. John tells us, "He came unto his own and his own did not receive him" (John 1:11). We are told in the Book of Matthew that Jesus said, "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Matthew 21:42).
The corner stone plays a critical role in the foundation of a building. The corner stone is the first stone laid. It is the crowning stone at the building's apex. All other stones are placed after it. It is the preeminent stone in time.
Jesus uses this illustration in this parable as a teaching moment. He asked them a question, "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?" We must note that Jesus used parables as a form of teaching. A parable illustrated a spiritual principle, an earthly story, with a heavenly meaning. Jesus spoke in parables to those who had ears to hear. Jesus' teaching connected to His intended targets. Those who have spiritual ears of discernment had no trouble receiving the meaning of what He was saying. The spirit of discernment will always make it clear about what is being said. Having ears is not a guarantee one will can hear the Word. Just as having 20/20 vision does not guarantee one will see Jesus as being, Jesus.
In Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus tells a parable about the wicked farmers. Jesus tells this story in symbolism of the Old Testament. The main characters in this parable are (1) the landowner, meaning God Himself, (2) the vineyard, meaning Israel, (3) the farmers, meaning the Jewish religious leaders, (4) the landowner's men, meaning the prophets and priests who remained faithful to God and preached to Israel, (5) the son, was none other than Jesus, and (6) the others, meaning the Gentiles. God had entrusted the nation of Israel to leaders who had not presented Him spiritual fruits. He had sent His prophets to warn them, but these prophets had been killed. Amazingly, God sent His own Son, in spite of the fate of His prophets. Soon the authorities would have His Son killed. In so doing, they would be rebelling against God, trying to shut Him out of the world He had created.
The Jewish nation rejected Jesus Christ, but God made Him the Leader, the Head of a new nation. The kingdom was taken from the leaders who had been unfaithful to God's will. From this teaching, we must be mindful that God's people today, stands under His judgment when we fail to believe, forsake the walk of faith, and do not carryout the mission that has been given to us.
Jesus is the Stone in the Christian's Life. He is the Head or Chief Cornerstone, the Foundational Stone, upon which every man or woman must build their life. There is no other Foundation upon which man can build and be secure. This also makes Him the foundation and the Cornerstone of the church. Let me give you the receipts, because the Bible says, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Christ is the Stumbling Stone and the Rock of Offense. Some people may not be able to understand that Jesus is the Son of God. Others are repulsed by the cross and His blood. They stumble and are offended by His deity and death for sin. Israel was the first to stumble and multitudes had stumbled since. Scripture tells us, "But Israel, which followed after 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 stumbling stone. As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense; and whosoever believe on him shall not be ashamed" (Romans 9:32-33).
Christ is that Crushing Stone or the Smiting Stone of Destruction. Christ rule and reigns at the right hand of God Almighty. However, with so much evil and destruction in this world, it may appear as though He is not ruling at all, but He is. He is waiting on more Believers, not willing that any should perish. But the day of redemption is coming. He shall become the Crushing Stone, the Smiting Stone of Destruction, to all who oppose Him. He shall crush and smite, destroying all who stand in opposition to Him. The Bible tells us, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matthew 21:44). Also, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Daniel 2:44).
Christ is the Living Stone. He was disallowed by men, but chosen by the Chief Architect God Himself, and counted as the most Precious of Stones. All men who comes to Him are laid upon Him, and they are built up into a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifice. Oh, it is in the Bible, "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 sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5).
We are able to see the rejection of Jesus Christ by its leaders and it was marvelous in God's eye. Scripture says, "And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Mark 12:10-11). What they failed to comprehend was that God the Father is the Architect of this world. He is a sovereign Builder who does not seek the permission of this world to lay forth His foundational plans. The rejection of Jesus was marvelous in the eyes of God, because it opened the door for the Gentiles. Although we may reject what we think is best for us, God stands ready to make sure His building is completed and Jesus is the Cornerstone. The Jewish leaders thought they had destroyed Jesus, the Cornerstone, but they were only fulfilling prophecy. It was already ordained that Jesus would die for the world, because God the Father, "So loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). How long will man forsake the Creator of the world? How can we turn our backs on the One who spoke into existence light, from an earth that was without form and void?
This Jesus who is preached about everyday, somewhere in the world, is our starting point for eternal life. He is "the way, the truth, and the life." He is our way out of sin, from Adam, the man that lead us to sin, into Jesus, the Giver of eternal life. He must be the foundation of our belief. When we reject Him, we are rejecting all He has for us. It would behoove men and women, boys and girls, to seek His face while we are among the living, while you still have time. One day and one day soon, we will have to give an account of the way we lived our life. When you choose to live for this world, you guarantee yourself a world's return, which is a life of separation from Jesus and you forfeit the presence of Jesus, forever. Surely Jesus will banish you to the lake of fire for eternal damnation.
I don't know about you, but for me and my household, we strive daily to be with Jesus in His new kingdom. I can't wait to hear Jesus say, "Come on in my good and faithful servant. Come and receive that which has been preserved for you."
The choice is yours and only yours to make. Salvation is God's gift to all who will receive it. All you have to do is accept it. Romans 10:9-10 makes it plain and clear, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." There is no mumbo jumbo about this statement. The Stone of Redemption is alive and well!