Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.  Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.  For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.

 
 
 

Going to Jesus

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Thought for Today
Sep. 07

BROKEN OR CRUSHED?

"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken,
but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

Jesus, in Mt. 21:44

Jesus is the principal "stone" upon which the house of faith is built. One of the Psalmist's prophetic parables speaks of that Stone as well as some "builders" who refused to have the Stone to be a part of their building. These "builders" were the leaders of Israel, God's Old Testament people. Jesus quoted that Psalm once, in a heated controversy with those evil-hearted builders: "Jesus saith unto them, 'Did ye never read in the Scriptures, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'" (Mt. 21:42). Continuing to speak of the Stone, which was himself, Jesus made this sobering comment: "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

In an awesome vision concerning the end of this age, Daniel beheld that Stone as it fell from heaven upon the kingdoms of the earth, and just as Jesus said it would do, the Stone ground those mighty kingdoms of men into a powder so fine that they all drifted away in the breeze (Dan. 2:34-35). Nothing will remain of all the ways of man. All will be destroyed and a new kingdom of righteousness instituted. Daniel's vision is obviously a prophecy of the second coming of Jesus. We learn from the Scriptures that when Jesus returns, his righteous wrath will explode in incomparable fury against his enemies with such destruction that blood from their obliterated bodies will run in a valley five feet deep for two hundred miles (Rev. 14:20). He will then proceed to reign on this earth "with a rod of iron" for one thousand years (Rev. 19:15; 20:4). Jesus has "turned the cheek" for the last time, even though for the present time we are commanded to follow the meek example he set while he was here.

It is better that we fall on the Stone now, that is, to repent at the feet of Jesus, than to stubbornly refuse to do so until the Stone falls on us. Those are the only two choices we have. Either we fall now at Jesus' feet with a "broken and contrite heart" or we will later suffer the Stone falling upon us, grinding us to powder, and casting us away forever into "outer darkness".

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