One may find it difficult to find hope during hard times. The dread and weight of hopelessness can be dark. A time of darkness that can be felt, and a weight that is unbearable. Waking up each day to carry it feels like another cycle of rinse and repeat. I imagine all the hopelessness and depression of hard times being compacted into a small stone and placed in my hand. What am I to do with this? I ask myself. My former self holding a stone of dread would attempt to toss that stone to be rid of it. Then the negative thoughts would come. It’s just going to bounce back and hit you, I would say. You are just going to have to pick it up again tomorrow, I would say. I could go on and on. Why does it come naturally to beat myself down?
There was a time in the past where I failed to focus on the Hope that Jesus Christ has to offer in life. Instead of hope, I would be negative. I was hopeless. With time, healing, and patience in My LORD God Jesus Christ, He has changed the negative Nancy tendencies in me.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
Revelation 2:17 KJV
The former me had one thing right, that old stone needed to be tossed. My old stone could remain no longer. I believe the verses above are still relevant. Just as the ancient ones ate the Manna of Heaven in the wilderness in their day, we can have our Manna too. The Holy Spirit had to open my heart to understand that Jesus is the Bread of Heaven and was the same Manna to the ancients. The new stone is given by the Son Jesus Christ. There is no need to polish or clean it, He has already done this by laying down His own life as a sin offering for us all. Wiping away our sins with His blood on the cross. This new stone is filled with Hope. Salvation pours from the stone like water. Eternal Life shines from it. It is filled with Deliverance, Peace, Rest, and yet it remains lighter than a feather. It is a true gift of Eternity. How fitting it is to be given such a gift by the Chief Corner Stone Himself.
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"
Ephesians 2:19-20 KJV
We are now fellow citizens of the House of God. Through Jesus Christ we have access to the Father by one Spirit. No more are we strangers to the covenant of promise. In perfect unity with the Trinity. In The Father, The Son Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit we have Eternal Life. One God who is Creator of the Universe in Three Divine persons. It is remarkable to witness the working of the Trinity. Jesus Christ the corner stone laid down His life and was raised by the Holy Spirit. The foundation of the Church was founded by the Architect of the Earth and the Heavens above Himself. I am to follow His example by setting aside my old stone and way of thinking to accept the new stone He has given. My old stone and way of living was indeed a stumbling block. Jesus made it easy for me by paying my ransom. I simply believe in Him, and the stone is given. This new stone is placed next to the others forming the spiritual house made of living stones. We each play our part.
"Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."
Daniel 2:34-35 KJV
It is amazing to see the prophecy of Jesus the Messiah in the Old Testament. The stone that was cut without hands. The stone was tossed and destroyed the old and weak foundations. Becoming a great mountain that fills the entire Earth. God of Heaven and Earth establishing a Kingdom that will never be destroyed and will stand for Eternity. (Daniel 2:44) Not only is Jesus the corner stone, He is also the capstone. He is the head of the church. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning, and the End.
Who art thou, the great mountain before Zorobabel, that thou shouldest prosper? whereas I will bring out the stone of the inheritance, the grace of it the equal of my grace.
Zechariah 4:7 Brenton's Septuagint Translation
I encourage you if you will, to compare translations at times. A different translation can offer a new perception of the verse. Not that it changes the verse, no, it brings a new understanding. For instance, I enjoy reading the Septuagint, or better known as the LXX. This is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Instead of using the word capstone or headstone, it is translated as The Stone of Inheritance in Zechariah 4:7. This to me makes perfect sense, as the words in the New Testament by Jesus states the He will give us a new stone. As I previously stated I see this white stone as being filled with many great things and the promises of Jesus. Most importantly, I see it has the Inheritance of Eternal Life! With this stone we will have Everlasting Life and never be ashamed. Just as it says in 1 Peter 2:6 He has laid a chosen and precious Cornerstone in Zion, and whoever believes in Him will never be ashamed.
Verses to read:
Daniel 2:34-35
Daniel 2:44-45
Zechariah 4:7
Ephesians 2:19-21
1 Peter 2:6
Revelation 2:17
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