The Cornerstone

Music has always been a part of my life.  I began playing clarinet when I was 9 years old and played it until I graduated high school.  My mom tried to give me organ lessons prior to that but it was hard to play more than one note at a time.  I have played handbells and can sing and carry a tune, mostly alto or harmony.  Lately, the lyrics of songs have brought about pure emotion with me.  Songs that I have heard before or sung many times now have a stronger meaning.  It is almost like seeing the world in black and white and then suddenly seeing it new in vivid colors.  It is beautiful, sad, happy, and comforting all at the same time.

I was going to write on resolutions and how we should try to make our resolutions to help make other lives joyful.  Blah, blah, blah…we all know that, and it is something that we should do, but let’s be honest…we will get comfortable in busy life and forget about them.  Instead, I want to direct your mind to thinking about a few songs and the lyrics that they express.  Last Sunday, our praise band, Yield, sang the song “Cornerstone” by Hillsong. 

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all.

Have you ever thought about a cornerstone?  According to Wikipedia, “The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.”  Did you see that?  It determines the position of the ENTIRE structure.  If it was not for the cornerstone, the building would probably be in shambles.  It would have no direction, the walls would eventually crumble because they were not secure.  The foundation would not be strong.  The building would be crooked.  See what I mean about how I see lyrics?  Jesus is our cornerstone.  He is the foundation that we should build our life upon.  He is the one that guides our lives.  He helps us to be strong so that when a storm comes, we aren’t just blown over into a pile of rubble.  We can stand strong. 

It also reminds me of the little childhood song about the wise man and the foolish man.  I loved singing that song because of the fun motions and it is probably the earliest Bible song that I remember learning.  The foolish man built his house upon the sand, the foolish man built his house upon the sand, the foolish man built his house upon the sand, and the rains came tumbling down. We all know what happened.  His house went splat.  The wise man built his house upon the rock.  When the storms came, his house stood firm.

That gives me such strength!  If we build our lives, our homes, our church, our relationships with our children, our jobs, our everything on the cornerstone of Jesus, we will not be shaken.  Well, we might be shaken, but we won’t be destroyed. 

Take some time to listen to lyrics.  Let them come alive in your soul like a beautiful and blooming flower.  Breathe it in, take it in and worship God in a new way this year.  Forget about the resolutions that you won’t keep.  Eat the chocolate anyway, just not all at once.  As long as you build your life on Jesus, the cornerstone, He will give you strength.