After what seems like months of ensuring we have our spiritual foundation correct, at last it is time to begin construction of our spiritual ‘lighthouse’. Ground Level is about bringing into the lighthouse store everything that is needed so it can fulfil its purpose. We begin with the cornerstone…

Read Isaiah 28:14-23; 1 Peter 2:4-9.

A lighthouse is constructed on a foundation dug right down to solid rock. If it were not so it could not stand the sheer strength of everyday waves and winds, let alone those of storm force. The necessity for it to repeatedly stand strong against the elements means that the first level of construction is of paramount importance; get ground level wrong and the whole thing could collapse at the first sign of trouble.

In a normal rectangular building, the cornerstone is the first stone laid at ground level from which every other measurement and alignment is made. In a circular construction like a lighthouse, every stone is a key stone because measurements and alignments continue to be of paramount importance right to the very top of the building: should just one stone be out of true it would cause a weakness that could at some stage see the whole tower lean or collapse.

He makes it clear that He will lay a precious but tested cornerstone that will be the new plumbline for justice and righteousness in the nations.

In Isaiah 28 God gives a grave rebuke to a nation that has installed shallow substitutes as their refuge and security and declares that He Himself will act in a ‘stormy’ judgement to sweep these things away. He makes it clear that He will lay a precious but tested cornerstone that will be the new plumbline for justice and righteousness in the nations. Scripture confirms Jesus - His life, suffering, blood, death and glorious resurrection - to be this cornerstone.

If we believe Jesus’ blood to be the once for all defining sacrifice that sealed the New Covenant then this fact should be the cornerstone of our lives not just on the day we first acknowledge it but EVERY DAY. In the construction of our spiritual ‘lighthouse’, this foundational building block, measuring line and alignment is not to be just the starting block but the very essence, objective and certain hope of everything that is built, either deep within us or by us for His Kingdom.

Additional reading: Zechariah 10:4; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20-22.

Prayer Time:

Reflect on what is written about the cornerstone and the difference between a rectangular and circular building.

This foundational building block, measuring line and alignment is not to be just the starting block but the very essence, objective and certain hope of everything that is built ...

• Can you identify any parts within you or things you have done ostensibly for Him where you can see He was not the key-stone?

Confess these things to God and receive His forgiveness.

Rededicate the ‘cornerstone’ of your spiritual building to God. Invite Jesus to help you build every layer of your life from hereon in with Him, His truth, righteousness and justice as your foundation, alignment and plumbline.

The other reflections in this series can be found here.