The Mystery of Stones: Christ Our Link to Heaven
"Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." (NIV) Gen 28:10-12.
We have already noticed in a previous devotional (The Mystery of Stones: Christ Our Home) that the Lord Jesus Christ is referred to as a Stone sometimes in the Bible. There are several features in this passage (Gen. 28:11-12) that suggest that Jacob's encounter with a stone was a form of symbolism of an encounter with the Lord. Today, we explore another dimension of this subject matter.
The story goes thus: Jacob, running away from his father's house because of the sin he had committed, stopped somewhere for the night and slept, using a particular stone as a pillow. He laid, and the gates of heaven were opened unto him that night when he encountered God. He received forgiveness and contrary to the expected curse from God because of his sin of deceit, he was rather blessed.
In the same vein, Jesus Christ- the Stone the builders initially rejected, is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6). He is the only One who can connect one to heaven, put you at Peace with the Father and He is the author of forgiveness for the one who has become a fugitive of his own wrongdoings.
In continuation, note that after this overwhelming experience, Jacob took that stone he had laid on, set it up for a pillar and called the name of the place Bethel which means "House of God". He then said that the pillar he had set up should be God's house. This mystery stone became a foundation for God's house.
Similarly, Jesus Christ became the Foundation on which the Church was built which is God's house (1Cor. 3:11). Surely, that stone was precious and symbolized Christ.
Dear reader, are you drowning in guilt? Remember that there is a Wonder Stone who can lead you to heaven, serve you an atonement for your sins, offer you a second chance and add you to God's family.