The Corner Stone Laid by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 8, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 23.

The Corner Stone Laid

By T. E. Bowen

IT is quite customary, these days—and how far back the custom may date, we do not know—for some person of note to be present at the laying of the corner stone of great structures—it may be a college, a public library, or some church edifice.

God Himself seems to have been present in this world when the chief corner stone of His church was laid—against which the Master said the “gates of hell” would not be able to “prevail.”

Peter tells about this wonderful event, this corner stone laying, long after the ceremonies were over—some sixty years, if we may rely on chronologists.

Here is his account of it: “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 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 house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 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.”

Those who choose this solid foundation stone of the corner, and build upon it,—Christ Jesus, the Lord,—need fear no coming storm. The man who builds his character structure upon this Rock, no storm, however fierce, can destroy. Such will be found to have grown to the Rock itself, and become, indeed, a part of that foundation stone. They are, so to speak, riveted to the Rock—Christ Jesus. Blessed, secure anchorage!

Have you found this corner stone, reader? The Father has built His church upon a tried foundation—Christ Jesus, the Son. It has stood the test of ages. Have you built upon Him? If so, you are secure.

T. E. BOWEN.