But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…”
Have you ever been one of those people who hate to make choices? I have. I would overthink every little decision. When I finally made a decision I would wonder if I should have chosen differently. Another version of this was the knocking of opportunity. Should I take this opportunity or wait for something better?
All this overthinking and worrying resulted in stress. It also meant I never felt certain about anything. Ironically, finding Jesus put an end to all that anxiety. Suddenly the question, “Is this God’s will?” trumped everything.
Jesus presents each one of us with a choice. The choice is more than do we believe that a man named Jesus lived. The choice has more to do with the question, “Do we believe that the man named Jesus still lives?” (The answer, by the way, for those of you who might be wondering, is yes, He lives!)
Those who do not believe, who choose to reject God’s offer of reunion with Him, do not see the value of the “stone.”
My wife enjoys watching TV shows where people fix up old houses. One show in particular emphasizes the old stuff they find in the house. Maybe it is an old newspaper in the wall. Sometimes it is just an old piece of wood that they take out. Whatever they find the see the value in it. Where others see junk, they see a treasure. And sure enough, by the end of the show, the piece they have salvaged from the house has become the centerpiece of the renovation.
The Jews of Jesus’ day rejected him because he didn’t fit their expectations. Instead of seeing the God and Creator of the universe, they saw a trouble maker. Instead of being amazed and humbled by the miracles Jesus did, they were angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath.
Humility is important when we approach God. If we come to God with expectations, we are putting Him in a box. God is who he is. (Exodus 3:14) We can trust in his promises, but we cannot expect that we always understand them correctly. (Isaiah 55: 8)
Application: “The stone the builders rejected” was overlooked because of human failings, not God’s.
Food for Thought: How do people react when something they have rejected turns out to be very important?
I guess to answer that, I would say it depends. Something can be important but still not be true, in which case the reaction would be different than if we come to find we’ve rejected something that were also true – which is what I think you’re getting at?
With Christ, if we reject him due to a lack of our understanding, but we come to new evidence, we can turn from this error though not all will do this.
For some of the Jews, particularly the Pharisees, they had an incredible amount of revelation and not only rejected him, but condemned him (as if, but in their minds) as evil. For this, there was no repentance to be found.
Impenitence that comes from pride cannot be forgive because it comes from a heart that is lifted up and will never seek it. They rejected for themselves God’s plan for them (being Jews).
How did they respond, by trying to cover it up. A lie, will only ever beget the need for more lies.
Anyhow, I’m so glad that we have a God who made himself known to us, and that through him we can even be accepted and brought into his presence and kingdom!
NMOP3PISdm
Well written! You took a deep dive on this one. Your point about lies begetting lies is excellent. If we choose deception over truth that only leads to more deception.
Thank you for the comments brothers.
When people permanently reject Jesus there will be either mourning or anger. Jesus often referred to those in hell as being either weepers or those with gnashing of teeth (anger).
It is a great contrast that when Jesus returns to rule on this earth that believers will be elated and unbelievers will mourn (Matthew 24: 30). The leaders of nations will actually seek to fight Jesus rather than embrace Him (Revelation 19: 19).
But every knee will now at some point (Philippians 2: 9 – 11). He is worthy of us embracing Him and bowing now.
Rich,
I appreciate you bringing this back to Philippians 2: 9-11.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
It reminds me that Jesus is king. Not just king over those who accept him as king. Rather he is king of all Creation, and all Creation will bow the knee to him.
Matthew 8:34, THEY SAW HIM, “implored Him to leave their region.”
Luke 4:28, “They were ”filled with rage“ as they HEARD HIM SPEAK.
Luke 23:18, “They all” CHOSE HIS CONDEMNATION.
To reject Christ is to choose Hell and live eternally in sorrow and anger.
Luke 13:28, There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you are thrown out.
Matthew 22:13, Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The misery and agony of hell will be eternal seperation from our Holy God who is the source of all good things. (James 1:17). To be cut off from God is the result of choosing to reject His call to Holiness, and choosing to live in sin. Hell will be a state of eternal sin and darkness. The absence of all holiness and light. All those in hell will fully understand the depravity of their sin, feel the full weight of guilt, and their shame for all eternity. .
Ron,
Thank you so much for pointing to the consequences of making the wrong choice. Now… I have a confession to make. 🙂
When I wrote the question for today, I was thinking more generically. For example, what if a person is driving down the highway and they see an exit sign. They think, “Maybe I should take this exit, but if I stay on the highway there will be an exit later on closer to where I am going.” So they keep driving only to find that the other exits are “under construction” and they have missed their opportunity to turn off. How would they feel?
To mix metaphors a bit, we are all on the “highway to hell” as one poet put it. Jesus Christ is the exit ramp. There are no others.
In the past, if I missed an important exit, I might be angry. When people step into the next life without taking the “Jesus Exit,” they are in for a lot more, as you put it, than being angry.
Its amazing how everything we do is a free willed option to sin or glorify his holy name. When you put him into every equation you have you will be making the right choice. But our god is so loving and forgiving that when you do let the evil one into your head and make a choice of this world not of his will, as it is in heaven. Then your able to humble yourself and admit your wrongs to him for forgiveness. To me that’s a pretty awesome father knowing that he will always love me and never turn away or leave me.
It is pretty amazing Tim. Just as Paul wrote, we are watched men always doing what we don’t want and not doing what we want. We can only be saved by Gods unwavering love for all.
Amen. Yes, we all count on the amazing forgiveness we have in Christ Jesus. It is His faithfulness and His righteousness that He gives to us and applies to us. His steadfast love never ceases and His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3: 21 – 26.
👍🏻