The Precious Stone

1 Peter 2:7-8 (NIV)
⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,
⁸ and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

1 Peter 2:7-8 (YLT)
⁷ to you, then, who are believing is the preciousness; and to the unbelieving, a stone that the builders disapproved of, this one did become for the head of a corner,
⁸ and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence--who are stumbling at the word, being unbelieving, --to which also they were set;

The one stone, Jesus, is laid before all. The Bible tells us that before time began on earth God made provision for His Son to come. This rock will come into our path in some form or fashion. This was predestined, foreordained. What we do with the message of the word of God, once encountered, determines our path from then on.

How we choose has not been predestined, but the result of that choice has been determined. We will either be lifted up, or stumble and fall. Rejection does not make the rock go away. We can choose to build our own life without the rock, but it remains. It will endure when all else fades away. So shall the one who believes.

May we all see and understand how precious this stone is. It is at the same time the cornerstone and the capstone, the first and last, the beginning and the end. All things have been given to Him. God gave to us the one thing most precious to Him: His Son.