Like Precious Stones

Today is day 13 in this season of Elul – seeking the Face, or the Manifested Presence of Jesus. But it is also a reminder that we are to prepare for His appearing. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected? AMPC

Now think about that. Paul warns the church members of Corinth to “examine and test and evaluate” themselves. But what were they to examine? To see whether they were holding to the “faith and showing the proper fruits of faith.” Now Biblical faith is often a concept foreign and even repulsive to our western culture and mindset. For example we believe George Washington was the first president of the United States. This morning when I climbed into my truck, I believed that when I inserted the key into the ignition, and twisted clockwise, that my truck would roar to life. As I drove to church I crossed a bridge that I believed would keep the truck and I from hurtling into the creek below at 45 miles per hour. That kind of trust is intellectual and passive. None of it costs me a thing other than reading some history, insurance, gas, and regular maintenance. None of these would qualify for what the Bible defines as faith. Biblical faith is responding to the unseen realm as if it is about to be seen. It will cost you more than the price of a history book, insurance, gas, or maintenance. It is not very comfortable. Often it will push you past your limitations, and especially your objections.

The academic discipline of philosphy has three tests for truth: logical consistency; empirical adequacy; and experiential relevance. For truth, to really be considered truth – academically and logically – it has to pass these three tests:

1. Is the truth I claim to believe in logically consistent?

2. Does it pass the test of empirical adequacy? In other words, Does it pass the test of observable phenomena? Or another way of saying it: Is this truth something that anyone can observe functioning, or existing, no matter what the conditions or variables involved – and remain adequate and consistent?

3. And, lastly, Is this truth experientially relevant? In other words, Is it truth that you experience that changes, challenges, and sustains you through good or bad times?

Would you agree that Jesus is the sum total of all Truth? When we place our trust in Him that trust will be able to pass the three tests of Truth alluded to above. Does Jesus pass the tests of Truth? Absoltely! Thus you could say true Biblical faith can be examined, tested and evaluated.

1 Peter 2:5-8 states:[Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.⁶ For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.⁷ To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,⁸ And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.

Often jewelers submerge what some consider precious diamonds in water to check if it is the genuine article. Real diamonds keep their brilliant refraction, while fake stones or diamonds lose their sparkle and blend into the water. The application is obvious. Easy seasons of life hide shallow commitments. Pressure, grief, and waiting rooms act as the water test—revealing whether our confidence rests in temporary comforts or an unshakeable Savior – our Rock, and Living Stone. Taking a cue from Peter you could surmise that all of us who are the “living stones” of Jesus have to pass the tests of offense. To those who disobey and disbelieve God’s Word; to those that do not see Jesus as precious – theirs is only a life of stumbling and offense at God and others. But as Psalm 119:165 reminds us: Great peace have they who love Your Law (His Instruction, and Teaching) and nothing shall offend them. The more you love His instruction the less you stumble over the offenses of God and others.