The Cornerstone

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:2 (ESV)

I tried jogging for exercise. I hated it and gave it up quickly. But one experience while jogging still lingers in my mind. When rounding a corner, my foot hit a patch of gravel. I began to fall. At first, I thought I could recover, but I couldn’t. Down I went. The result—a few scrapes and total embarrassment!

Life can be like that. We move along smoothly until something unexpected happens—an obstacle threatens to trip us up. The path of life is filled with rocky places that require careful navigation. 

Unless our lives are built upon a firm foundation, we can easily stumble or even fall.

A firm foundation begins with the cornerstone. It’s the first stone set in place and is laid with great precision. The cornerstone bears much of the building’s weight and serves as the reference point for the entire building. Every other stone in the building process is aligned to the cornerstone.

Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone. (Ephesian 2:20) We believers are the stones that build His temple, His church.  Our faith rests upon Jesus alone. He is our firm foundation, and all our thoughts and actions are to be aligned to Him.

With Jesus as our foundation and with our focus centered upon Him, when we travel through rocky places in life, He upholds us with His righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) A life centered upon Jesus is not easily shaken.  

Upon what rocky ground are you traveling? What unexpected trial is threatening to cause you to stumble? Cling to Jesus!

Have you wandered down a path that is leading you away from righteousness or away from an intimate relationship with Jesus? Turn. Realign your life to Jesus, who stands ready to welcome you.

 Jesus, you are the rock upon which we stand—our firm foundation that will never be shaken. Uphold us. Redirect us. Help us remain aligned to you and your ways. Amen.

Jan Burkhart