Truth, Our Cornerstone!

The last couple of days I have been reflecting on Truth, and the need for the church to be purveyors of the Truth.  Yesterday I was reading out of Isaiah 28 and today I felt led to read from 1 Peter 2, and sure enough, Isaiah 28 is quoted by Peter.  I would all that a confirmation of theme for sure.  Here are the verses from Isaiah 28:14-18 NIV:

[14] "Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. 

[15] You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place. ” 

[16] So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. 

[17] I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. 

[18] Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it."

I found the wording of verse 15 quite interesting - making "a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place."  It seems of late that it is almost impossible to get a direct read on the facts concerning many of our world issues.  We seem to have lost all connection to a standard of truth, and we have created this situation where everything is subjective, and subjected to opinion and political spirit. It seems more often than not that supposed facts are actually partial truths that are meant to build up a particular opinion, and that the truth is hidden, as if the whole truth was exposed the reality of the lies and falsehood would be revealed and the shelter they provide would be shattered.

I am encouraged that God has a response to this attitude and action of the peoples.  He lays a cornerstone of truth, and from it is able to establish a measuring line of true justice, and righteousness.  Oh Lord, we pray that You would once again expose the lies and falsehoods, and expose the whole truth, that we might once again have true justice, and see what true righteousness looks like.

Peter quotes verse 16 in light of some of the struggles that were being encountered in the early church.

And here are the verses from 1 Peter 2:1-6 NIV"

[1] "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. [2] Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, [3] now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 

[4] As you come to him, the living Stone---rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him--- [5] you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

[6] For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

We must be cognizant of the fact that we are representing God, and as such there is no place for malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.  These are the lies and falsehoods that were addressed by the Lord in Isaiah.  We must make Jesus our cornerstone of Truth for HE is the Truth (John 14:6). It is upon Him that we are being built into a spiritual house, called to be a holy priesthood!  Lies and falsehoods, partial truths and opinion must be destroyed in our lives, if we are to reestablish truth, and see true justice and righteousness restored. 

Oh Lord, I pray that You would raise up Truth, reveal the lies and the falsehoods that are present in our lives!  Reveal the covenants with death and destruction that have been made by those seeking to destroy the church, seeking to destroy nations and peoples.  Lord, reveal all that is hidden, all that is covered over!  We pray that once again Truth will reign in our land and in our hearts!  We pray specifically for the Church, for there are many voices with many messages, and there is only one Truth!  Help us to recognize the the Truth, and reject all else!  Help us to make You, the Truth, our cornerstone!

Amen and Amen!