THE FAMILY ALTAR
October 6.
"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." 1 Pet. 2:6.
The Scriptures must be fulfilled. What the Lord, our God,
prophesied long centuries before through His prophet Isaiah
(chap. 28) concerning the foundation and precious corner-stone of
His New Testament Zion has been fulfilled to the letter in the
crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth. Though a stumbling-block
and offense to the wise and self-righteous of all times, Jesus has
upheld His Church through all the storms of the centuries. Where
is the proud Temple of Jerusalem? Where the might Forum of
Rome ? Where are the colonnades of the Greek philosophers ? They
have all vanished like dry autumn leaves before the northern gale.
But the house built on the elect and precious Corner-stone, Christ,
the holy Christian Church, still stands, a miracle of God, and will
stand secure to the end of time ; for the gates of hell shall not pre-
vail against her. Whoever believes in Christ as his crucified and risen
Savior has this immovable foundation under him and will never
be confounded, will never be overthrown in his faith, will never
suffer ruin. So many build the house of their happiness on their
wealth, their wisdom, their health; but it is delusive quicksand
on which they build. When the storms of adversity or death beat
upon their house, it crashes into ruins. Many a man has bitterly
regretted on his death-bed that he lived without Christ, but no one
ever regretted having placed his hope in his Savior. The world
and its alluring pleasures have deceived many; Jesus deceives no
one that puts his trust in Him. 0 let us daily cast ourselves with
all our sins and cares on Jesus, the elect and precious Corner-stone
and Foundation of the sinners' salvation, and we shall never be
confounded.
Behold the sure Foundation-stone
Which God in Zion lays,
To build our heavenly hopes upon,
And His eternal praise.
Chosen of God, to sinners dear,
Let saints adore the name ;
They trust their whole salvation here,
Nor shall they suffer shame.
What though the gates of hell withstood,
Yet must this building rise:
'Tis Thine own work, Almighty God,
And wondrous in our eves.
