Revelation 21:19-20 says, “The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.” And John saw New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11) “Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal.”
Before Revelation 21 there are other mentions of precious stones. In 1 Peter 2:4 the Lord is “a living stone, rejected by men but with God chosen and precious” and in 2:6 He is “in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious.” In 1 Corinthians 3 we all are to participate in the New Testament building work by using gold, silver, and precious stones. On the one hand, Christ is the precious stone; on the other hand, we build with precious materials.
First Corinthians 3:12 says, “But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones…” In our natural being we are none of these materials. In 2 Corinthians 4:7 we are earthen (clay) vessels and Christ is the treasure in us; He makes us precious. The precious stones in New Jerusalem are developed through Christ being revealed in us (Galatians 1:15-16), we being rooted in Him (Colossians 2:7), Christ living in us and us living one with Him (Galatians 2:20), Christ being formed in us (4:19), and Christ making home in us (Ephesians 3:16-17). Lord, grant me grace to cooperate with Your living in me every day. Be the precious one in me!
Tom Smith
/ July 24, 2012It’s so good to see that by enjoying Christ every day, we’re being transformed into those precious stones that will adorn the New Jerusalem. “Yes, Lord grant us the grace to cooperate with Your living in us each day. Be the precious One in us, making us the precious materials built up into Your eternal dwelling place.”