God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his.” (2 Tim. 2:19)
THE CORNERSTONE of a masonry building dictates where the rest of the foundation will be laid. It may also convey important information about the structure. Some cornerstones include time capsules or historical mementos, and most are laid as part of a public ceremony. The cornerstone also contains a visible inscription that tells the world about the building. It may simply have the name of the architect and the year it was laid, or it may say something about the building’s purpose. The cornerstone intended for the Freedom Tower in New York, which was laid in a 2004 ceremony, reads, “To honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and as a tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom—July 4, 2004.”
For cathedrals and churches, cornerstones have a deeper meaning. The cornerstone at my church bears this inscription: “Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone. Eph. 2:20.” That truth is echoed in a well-known hymn, which reminds us that “the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.” And as today’s verse tells us, Jesus knows every one of the members of His church universal.
The cornerstone for Freedom Tower no longer stands there. It was moved to Long Island when the architectural plans for the Tower were reconfigured in 2006. But the Cornerstone for the church will remain firm forever. You can count on it.
Sing “The Church’s One Foundation” as part of your devotions.
Kathryn Page Camp enjoys photography, reading, and sailing Lake Michigan with her husband of thirty-five years.
