1 Peter 2:7-9 – Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
The “stone” mentioned here is a symbol for Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4, Romans 9:33, Isaiah 28:16). People stumble because they disobey the Gospel —which is also what they were destined for. V7 is stating that to those who believe in Jesus and have given their lives to Him, He is precious. But obviously, to those who refuse to give up their lives, to give their lives to Jesus, He is not precious to them. Whom is it that they reject, they reject the only One who can snatch souls from the world and bring them to a life of eternal peace with God (Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5). He is the Cornerstone. He is the one who holds it all together. Friends, please, consider the eternality of this decision. There is only one way to eternal peace with God, and that is through Jesus. Whether to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, or not, is the only eternal choice you have. Be right in this eternal choice.
V8 states that Jesus causes people to stumble and He makes them fall. Does that mean that Jesus purposely trips people up? No, it is their hard hearts that cause them to stumble. How foolish is it to see a stone on the road to eternal life, to be aware of it, to be told to carefully regard the stone, and then to stumble over it. The Gospel is being preached throughout the world and people have heard and are hearing of Jesus. People are traveling the road of life leading to Eternity, they are told that the Stone in the road is the only one that they must have, that they must always travel with, and yet they try hard to get around it and instead, stumble and fall down. There is no disregarding the Living Stone that is Jesus. To do so is eternal death (separation from God).
Again, why do people stumble? They stumble because they disobey, they disregard, the stone as something not worthy of them. Oh my, we are talking about the Holy Blood of Jesus! The blood of Jesus that was shed for them! Here in V8 the Word of God clearly states that all, even those who have rejected Jesus Christ, were meant to be saved by the message (Gospel). We know that God does not want any person to perish. 2 Peter 3:9 states that the Lord is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” It is clear that God wants all who ever lived to receive eternal life with Him (John 3:16), but it is also clear that most will not (Matthew 7:13-14). Family, let us be bold, but gentle and loving, in sharing the Truth in the Gospel. It is a matter of eternal life and death. Not the temporary life we now live, or the first death that is the end of this temporary life. We do not devalue the life we now live, but as we know it is one’s eternal position with God that matters most. Friends, if you do not yet know Jesus as Savior and Lord, please do come to Him. It is the single choice in this life that will determine your eternal future. Family, love the world! If the love of God that is in us, we will love all the people of the world (Mark 12:31). If we cherish every drop of the blood of Jesus, we will love the world and share the Gospel. May we praise God in how we obey Him. Our life is not our own and that is to the glory of God! Praise God always and forever! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.