A TRIED STONE | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 11, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 19.

"A TRIED STONE."

"Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation." Isa. 28: 16. In 1 Cor. 3: 11 we have a further reference to this foundation. The apostle says, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Then Jesus Christ is the tried, or tested, stone upon which the church, or kingdom, of God is built. He is the "chief Corner-stone," as Peter puts it in quoting the prophecy of Isaiah. Now the record shows a very thorough testing of this foundation.

The First Test.

He was tested as creator. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1: 1-3. "By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Col. 1: 16, 17.

The success of this work is attested by the Spirit, in that the Record says, "And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good." Gen. 1: 31. The work was so good that then and there a perpetual memorial of it was established. "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made, And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." This memorial is to continue throughout the life of this earth and of the new earth. Ex. 31: 16, 17; Isa. 66: 22, 23. Of Christ's work as creator, the Spirit further says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." Ps. 19: 1. There was no failure in that great test.

The Second Test.

Christ, being the Son of God, and being associated in all that pertained to the position, was God. The Word that was made flesh was God (John 1: 1, 14); and the Father calls Him God (Heb. 1: 9). But in passing from the "bosom of the Father" to the nature of man, He did not come the whole way at one step. He first became an angel and was tried, or tested, in that capacity. In delivering Israel from Egypt, the Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud (Ex. 13: 21), but He was the Angel of God (chapter 14: 19). God told the people that He would send His Angel before them to keep them in the way. He was one of whom God said, "My name is in Him," and He was one who could forgive sins. Ex. 23: 20-23. He is also called the Presence of God (chapter 33: 14), and the Angel of His presence (Isa. 63: 9).

As an angel He successfully delivered the people from bondage, overcoming their enemies. When the natural sources of water failed, He brought water from a rock. When food failed, He fed them with bread from heaven forty years. So successful was His career as angel that He was the chief, or Archangel. Jude 9; Dan. 12: 1; John 5: 25; 1 Thess. 4: 16; Rev. 12: 7-10.

The Third Test.

When the appointed time came, the ultimate step in the humiliation of Christ was taken, and He was made "a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death." Heb. 2: 9. He was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Matt. 2: 1), "in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8: 3). In this nature, He was tested as a child, tested as a youth, tested as a young man, as a workman, as a neighbor, as a member of the church. He was tempted, or tried, in all points just as other human beings, from childhood to manhood, yet He never failed. Heb. 4: 15. With all the weakness of sinful flesh against Him, He met the personal temptations of the adversary Himself, and came off conqueror. As minister of the Gospel He spake as never man spake before or since. As physician, He never lost a case. Of the multitudes of afflicted who came to Him, "He healed them all." Even as a man, He could feed the hungry thousands in the wilderness. No disputant could "entangle Him in His words;" or present any problem that He could not solve. He could endure hardness without discouragement; and was long-suffering with His erring disciples. He could suffer and die like a hero, and forgive even those who nailed Him to the cross. No scheme of men or devils could swerve Him from the commandments of God.

Such is the foundation of the Christian's faith. In every sphere of intelligent existence He has been tried, having met and conquered the enemy of souls. In every sphere, He has shown His ability to create, to sustain, and to redeem. In every trial He has stood the test, and fulfilled every trust reposed in Him by the Father. He has been willing to make every sacrifice which His loving purpose required; hence His marvelous success. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2: 9-11. And He is now in the heavenly sanctuary, making intercession for those who seek the favor of God, being "able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7: 25. Is it not reasonable, then, to build our faith and hope upon such a tried and sure Foundation? Is it not the part of wisdom to build upon that which has been tested to the utmost?