That God is in the midst of a building program is clear in Scripture. He is the architect . . . the developer . . . the sub-contractor . . . the tradesman . . . and, He even supplies all the material. It’s re-cycled material . . . all of it, at one point, soiled . . . all if it, apart from the re-cycling program, damaged goods . . . but all redeemed and renewed such that it is now suitable for God’s design and purposes. Material which cost the Father dearly to secure . . . but which He delighted to purchase for this one of kind eternal structure. Material which is laid in the context of a Foundation which is perfect . . . a chief cornerstone, elect, precious . . . a Living Stone chosen by God. Material which has been reconstituted to take on the properties of the Foundation . . . to be like the Foundation . . . to be, just as He is, living stones.

This picture in 1Peter 2 always grabs me . . .

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 1:4-5)

Man! What a building program . . . what a high and lofty structure . . . a living, breathing sanctuary . . . a people-building designed to function as a God separated priesthood given the sacred occupation of offering up spiritual sacrifices to the Father through His Son. In Ephesians it say that this structure has been architected such that each member is fit together perfectly so that it grows into a holy temple . . . being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph2:20-22). And the materials? 100% re-cycled.

I, along with every believer through the ages, am a living stone. Purchased at great cost. Having no “textile” quality of myself but given new “properties” suitable for building with when I was made a new creation in Christ. I’m a living stone just like THE LIVING STONE . . . redeemed into the likeness of Christ for the purpose of being conformed to the image of Christ . . . to be incorporated as part of the building whose foundation is Christ.

A living stone being built into a spiritual house. I’m a piece of the puzzle . . . a small piece of colored glass in the mosaic . . . a measure in the opus . . . a face on a multi-faceted diamond. A living stone shaped, as He has determined . . . placed exactly where He wants . . . incorporated into an eternal design for the purpose of offering up spiritual sacrifices to the One who alone is worthy to receive honor . . . put together for the glory of God.

What a privilege . . . what an undeserved, grace wrought privilege. To be counted a living stone fit for His sanctuary . . . to be recruited into a holy priesthood with such a high and holy calling . . . to be cemented eternally with His Son to form a house of eternal praise . . . it really is a bit overwhelming. And who’s up to the task? Not me in my own power . . . not me in my own strength and determination. But the life I now live as a living stone, I live by faith in the Son of God — THE LIVING STONE — who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20). And the textile strength I possess as fitting for such a unearthly structure is that of the indwelling Spirit of God — the power of the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 8:11). And the “right” I have to consider myself suited for such a grandiose building program is the right I have as a child adopted by the Father (Gal. 4:4-7).

A living stone . . . who woulda’ thought? God . . . the God who is in the midst of a building program . . .

Thank You Father!