BUILT TO LAST

“… 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.” 1 Peter 2:5

An insurance company recently ran an ad posing the question, “How long of a retirement should you plan for?” Then they quoted a statistic that Hallmark Cards sold 85,000 “Happy 100th Birthday!” cards last year. A news program ran a story today stating that some researchers believe we may be able to live as long as 150 years because of healthier lifestyles and advancements in medicine. Without trying to sound pessimistic I sure hope that doesn’t happen in my lifetime. Given the choice of living longer on earth or being “built to last” I would rather be “built to last.” See if you agree.     
    
Living stones - “…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.” 1 Peter 2:5. There is an old expression that says that a “rolling stone gathers no moss.” The idea is that if you just keep moving on in your life you won’t have to put down any roots or you will avoid any responsibilities or cares. In contrast, I believe that God has called us to be “living stones that suffer no loss.” Sure, we can have pain and bad things will happen to us. However, when they do (not if they do) we are able to experience the new life we have in Christ which is “dead to sin” and “alive to God”, in the midst of it all (Romans 6:11). We are able to bring new “life” into our marriages, our families, and into every other experience or circumstance we face. What was a tragedy can now be viewed as a victory. And when our physical bodies wear out, we are able to experience victory over death by trading our temporal existence in this world for an eternal existence with God in heaven. Now that’s living!
 
Anchored well - “…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.” 1 Peter 2:5. Jesus often used “building” terms to illustrate spiritual truths. In Matthew 7:24 he said that if we “practice” what He “preaches” we will be “like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” As “living stones” we need to be anchored well so we can withstand the storms of life regardless of our age, experience or social status in life. When our spiritual roots run deep; they provide stability, nourishment and a sense of purpose in life. If they are shallow, we run the risk of being blown away by the storms of life.
 
Set apart - “…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.” 1 Peter 2:5. Priests are “set apart” as “mediators” between God and man. We do not take the place of the “high priest” which is Christ (Hebrews 4:14), but we are set apart as a “holy priesthood” to dispense God’s grace to those around us who are hurting. Our “acts of grace” accompanied by “words of hope” help to soften hard hearts so they are receptive to God’s call for all people to become “living stones”.
        
Tempered over time - “…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.” 1 Peter 2:5. When my wife and I were married it took me awhile to learn what an “acceptable” gift was. Don’t get me wrong, Kathi wasn’t unappreciative of my efforts, but we had completely different views of what was appropriate. I was giving her “practical gifts” and she preferred romantic. Over time I finally began to understand the difference between the two. Our gifts to God will change or “temper” over time as well. What we once considered a “great sacrifice”, will soon look insignificant as we grow in our faith. It’s all a matter of our perspective and spiritual maturity. God understands our “gift giving” at any level because He knows the intentions of our heart. Remember the widow who gave one of the “smallest” offerings? It was considered far greater than more substantial gifts because she gave “all” that she had. As “living stones” we will be tempered over time as we continue to offer our lives as spiritual sacrifices “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  
 
Well, what do you think? Would you rather live longer or be “built to last”? Enjoy your week and don’t forget to “check your pulse”, after all it’s a healthy thing to do regardless of your answer!