10/20/2023
We all have touchstones in our lives by which we measure ourselves and the quality of our lives; those people, places, and events that we consider to represent our ideal. Is Jesus the touchstone of all touchstones in your life? Do you measure all else, even your other touchstones based on Him?
“But he looked directly at them and said, "What then is this that is written: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."”
Luke 20:17-18 ESV
I awoke this morning to a single word... touchstone. For those who don’t know the meaning of this word here is the definition according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
1: a fundamental or quintessential part or feature
2: a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing
3: a black siliceous stone related to flint and formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal
Touchstones, we have many. When I want to test my manhood I compare myself to my father. When I want to test my unconditional love of family I compare myself against my mother. When I want to test my faithfulness I compare myself to Jack Hughes, my spiritual mentor, and when I want to gauge how well I am doing as a saint I rub myself across the stone of my mother in law... Jane Young. We have many people that we hold as touchstones in one way or the other, but something is unique about them all, at least it should be, and that is this... we have tested them all against the touchstone of Jesus Christ. These are humans, and they won’t be perfect in every way, but they must show some color, indicating a touch of Jesus Christ in their lives or they are not true, but false measures. How do you measure your life?
“until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”
Ephesians 4:13 ESV
Jesus is the touchstone by which we judge all else in our lives; especially our various earthly touchstones. He is the one true measure by which we can rest certain in being the trueness of all else.
Sometimes we are tempted to measure ourselves falsely. I remember a kid in my high school; he was a big man on campus. He was a star on the football team, he was tall, strong, wore all the trendiest clothes, drove a cool car, and had all of the girls fawning over Him. I used to wish that I was like him... he was a touchstone of sorts for me in my immaturity. Sin is like this... it lures us and tries to become the rule by which we gauge our lives. Success at all cost, winner take all, win at all cost, and there is no second place, only losers... you have heard these things and many more... they are the mantra of a false life. Sin takes the lie and touts it as a fundamental truth.
“But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."”
Genesis 3:4-5 ESV
The allure of false prophets and touchstones is great indeed, because they, more often than not, tell us that our lives are good, and they offer us self-gratification, and an easy way out. They give us an excuse for our shortcomings. We need to choose our touchstones well lest we find too late that what we once thought was truth has taken from us all our treasure, and we have lost Eden.
As we go through life our touchstones change. Saul of Tarsus was a man who persecuted the followers of Jesus. His touchstone was the law and I am certain that he had mentors who supported him in this endeavor as well, but something amazing happened that would change him totally... something that gave him all new touchstones. Saul met Jesus Christ, and it changed more than his name (from Saul to Paul); it changed how he gauged everything in life.
“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."”
Acts 9:18-20 ESV
When we find truth it changes us. It isn’t a gentle change but a difficult one that quite often causes us to suffer. Rare is the occasion when we become better or stronger on an easy road. Saul learned what it would take to follow Jesus. He knew full well the suffering he was about to go through, but the truth was worth the price.
“But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."”
Acts 9:15-16 ESV
Funny thing about truth; it takes the blinders off of us. Once we see it then all else is unacceptable. Saul became a Paul because the truth changed him to the core... he became a new person and Jesus his ultimate touchstone. All of those who He once viewed as genuine fell away and new touchstones were installed in his life. There isn’t much attention paid to this part of his transformation, but the ramifications of it are apparent. His old friends wanted to kill him. Changing touchstones shakes you to the core and tests you like nothing else.
“When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,”
Acts 9:23 ESV
Bring those things you hold as truth, and those things you treasure, and rub them against the touchstone of Jesus Christ. Did they leave a mark? Was their truth revealed, or was the touchstone unblemished? If they left a mark then hold onto them, but if not then cast them aside. This is a painful process, but the truth is worth suffering for. Maybe the man you thought you wanted to be like proves to be less than you realized, or the faithfulness you saw in the law, as it was to Saul, is not the same truth that the fulfillment of the law was to Paul.
The high school boy that I thought I wanted to be like? Well, I really have no idea what became of him. I moved away from my childhood home, and took up other touchstones. Some I have kept all my life, while others I cast aside, but one thing is unchanging... Jesus tests them all.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the true Corner, who is the touchstone that I test all else on... even testing those other stones that I see as fundamental of one truth or the other. Holy Father, Jesus is the true test by which my life is guided and I thank you for Him. When all else falls away your Son holds true in all that is in me, and lifts me from the quagmire of sin that surrounds and attempts to lure me. When I rub the essence of myself against Him it leaves the mark of your grace, and in seeing the trace left behind I raise my hands to you in praise and thanksgiving. Father, there have been many things that I thought were true which I have cast aside. Losing some have caused me to suffer, but always I found new life in your truth. You are truth Lord, and in you I find my comfort, healing, rest, and joy. Your mark is my greatest treasure, and tells all who see me that I have found you, and you have welcomed me home. Let me become a touchstone, in some way, for others Father, as they struggle to find the one true touchstone in their lives... Jesus Christ. Let me be the boundary stone that they can see as they walk past me and enter into Him, and you.
Rich Forbes