Old Paradise Church – Corner Stones, Rocks, Bells, and Towers

On Friday, April 13, 2012 as we were transplanting bushes and trees, a man came to look at the cornerstones of the original building.  He told us that they plan to use one of the original cornerstones in the new building.  They plan to make a monument out of the other cornerstone. 

To get to the cornerstones, a large juniper bush was uprooted and overturned, and holes were dug.  

Original rock will become part of a stone façade and plans call for a modified steeple that doubles as a bell tower, housing the original bell from the 19th century church.

Corner stones, rocks, bells, and towers have symbolic meaning.

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12

Dark storms are coming. If they haven’t reached us yet, they are on their way. Upon what rock must we build our foundation?  This seems like a redundant question, but what doctrine do we believe and teach?  Do we build our foundation upon men? Institutions? Or do we build upon the rock of our Redeemer? Can we build our foundation upon men and upon Christ at the same time?

Do we trust in Jesus to deliver and redeem us?  Why do men seek to displace Christ?  What will happen to those who fall for this clever deception? Can a man save us? Protect us?

Who is our compass when the devil sends forth his mighty winds of confusion? Who stands guard as shafts in the whirlwind come from all directions seeking to destroy? Who is our covering when hail and mighty storms beat upon us? In whom do we place our trust? Who is the only one with power to save?

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matt 7:24-29 

What was the doctrine of the scribes? Why are the people astonished at Jesus’ doctrine? What is the difference between those that hear and doeth and those that hear and doeth not? What is Christ asking us to do? Are we doing it? Are we ready for the approaching storm?

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. Mark 12:1-12

Who are the husbandmen? What is the vineyard? What was the purpose of the tower? Why does the Lord let the husbandmen be in charge of His vineyard? What is he expecting from the husbandmen? What is the expected fruit? What do the husbandmen do to the Lord’s servants? What do the husbandmen do to God’s son? What will the Lord of the vineyard do to the husbandmen?  Who will the vineyard be given to? Who is the stone that is rejected?  What will the stone become? Are we building upon the stone? Have we become precious fruit  worth preserving?

Jesus can teach us so much using parables. He puts the mysteries of God on display for everyone with eyes to see. Are we ready for what Christ has to teach us? Heaven speaks in symbols. God has created parables for us. There are parables that happen right before our very eyes every day. You might even call them living parables. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. Isaiah 28:16-17