03.07. "Polished Corners of the Temple"

7. "Polished Corners of the Temple"

"May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like polished corner-stones of the Temple." Psalms 144:12

There is something very beautiful in this prayer of King David. He is longing for the happiness and prosperity of his people. And here is one blessing which he seeks: "May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like polished corner-stones of the Temple." The vigorous activity of the sons is here combined with the quiet beauty of the daughters. The former are like robust plants, shooting upwards with powerful energy. The latter are like fair, sculptured cornerstones, or decorated columns, perhaps garnished with many a precious jewel, remaining peacefully in their own places, adorning the temple with beauty and symmetry; and, moreover, adding to the strength and stability of the whole structure. May you be such a corner-stone or pillar in the Great Temple which the Lord is even now building for His own eternal praise and glory! But how may this be? How may you be a polished corner-stone in the Spiritual House which is the habitation of the Holy Jehovah?

First of all, you must be fixed in the building, firmly placed on the foundation, and knit to the Chief Corner-stone. This is all-important. There are many who are only as the scaffolding, or as stones loosely lying around the ground. They are only as the wood, hay, and stubble, which may be used in some way as the building is being erected, but that will never stand the fire which is to try every man’s work. Alas! is not this too true of thousands who worship with us in our churches week by week, but as yet have no saving part or lot with Christ?

You may be a Christian in name, but not in deed and in truth. You may be in the roll of the church on earth, and baptized — but yet your name may never have been written in the Lamb’s book of life. You may be often in the sanctuary, joining with Christ’s people in prayer and praise — and yet never be one of the true worshipers whom the Father delights to accept.

Let there be no mistake about this. Man looks at the outward appearance — but the Lord looks on the heart. Judge your own self. Are you in the Temple, or near it? Through the Holy Spirit’s teaching have you been brought out of the quarry, seeing your own natural corruption, and trusting only in the Savior’s grace? Have you been laid on the sure foundation, so that now every hope rests on Christ alone?

Remember the words of Peter. Many speak of him as the Rock, but what is his own testimony? Does he not point men away from himself, and from all beside, to the Great Rock, the Chief Corner-stone, laid in Zion by God, and bid us come to Him, and come to Him continually?

"To whom coming (that is, to Christ) as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious — you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-8).

If you have never known the secret of peace before, come straight to Christ now. Let your youth be yielded to Him.

You may seem to yourself to lack everything that is good;
you may be troubled with strange doubts about God or His Word;
you may be conscious of much willful evil;
you may be oppressed with your own utter inability to walk in the right path
— yet let nothing of all this hinder your coming to Him. A young lady was desirous of becoming a Christian, but was unable for a time to see her way. However, on one occasion Miss Elliot’s beautiful Hymn — Just as I Am — was sung in the church which she attended. She felt she dare not let her lips utter the words without her heart going with them. So she prayed then as in the very presence of Christ:

"Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To You whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come!" Her humble desire was accepted. She came to the Savior and He received her, and gave her the peace she sought. But when you have come to Christ, you must rest in Him and on Him. As every part of a building rests continually on the foundation — so must each Christian on Christ. Amidst all fears, temptations, sorrows — stay your soul on Him. Let your inner spirit repose on His faithful promise and never-failing loving-kindness. Let the thought of Him as being always "able to save" and "able to support" you, keep you from sinking into despondency or unbelief:
Trust in Jesus all the day,
Trust in Jesus all the way;
Trust in Him whatever befall,
Trust in Jesus Christ for all. But I would like you to be "a polished corner-stone." To be in the building at all is an unspeakable privilege, and gives you a sure hope for eternity. But there are rough diamonds and rough corner-stones, with many sharp, jutting points, which were far better gone, for they greatly hinder a young lady’s usefulness, and mar the work she might do for the Master. If I had the power with some young friends, I should greatly like to use the chisel now and then, and perhaps the blow might not always be a gentle one!

Well, suppose I do try my chisel, and see what I can do. I am sure you will thank me in the end, though possibly one or another might be angry with me for the moment. What do I mean? I will tell you. Let me just question you a little about your faults. Let me just point out as plainly as I can a few things that very often stand in the way of a young girl, and spoil the true beauty and attractiveness which ought to be manifest in her. And first, if I could, I would like to take my chisel and touch that neglect of home duties, which is such a serious matter in many cases. If you are a Christian, it is in the home that you are called first to shine. The very essence of a life of discipleship is the taking up, moment by moment, the duty the Lord puts before you — however small or trivial or uncongenial it may be — and doing it as well as possible and as brightly, because you are His, and He gives it you to do. This bright, sunny, satisfied spirit greatly adorns the doctrine of Christ, and sheds a marvelous light and gladness over the home. When a daughter is ever on the tiptoe to do some little office of kindness for the mother, "Oh, do let me help you in this, mother!" When the sister is ever looking out for means of making the home more attractive to brothers or younger sisters, when self is put aside to watch over a sick or aged member of the family, when little duties are taken up pleasantly and done with a smile — then such a one will reap no small reward in the real good she will be able to effect. But there is very often the neglect of all this. A young lady goes on writing her letter, or doing some fancy needlework, when she knows a few notes on the piano or a quiet song would soothe the brain of a father or brother who is tired with the day’s work. It is not asked of her, because it might be done grudgingly, and thus fail to give any gratification — but nevertheless, it would have been gladly welcomed if cheerfully offered. Or perhaps a mother or sister is left to toil on with things that must be done at home, and another sister will not give five minutes help, but is consulting her own pleasure, perhaps by going to an early celebration, or perhaps trifling over a painting, or drawing, which might just as well be done some other time.

Whatever you do, my young friend, don’t slight your home fireside duties. A candle "gives light to all that are in the house," so ought you to let your religion benefit every one who lives with you. It is very easy to do a certain amount of work in a church — but let home stand first. Then whatever you do outside, will have double value, because backed up by your own home example.

Then I might take my chisel and touch those sharp points and excrescences which come from some failure in temper, or at least the appearance of it in your manner. Since we are none of us angels, but sinful men and women, compassed by infirmity — there must ever be need to exercise much forbearance with those who are around us. We are not perfect — nor must we expect perfection in others. Besides, we are frequently liable to mistakes, and our own self-love too often hides the fault which is in ourselves. So we need to guard both tongue and temper with constant vigilance.

How is it with yourself in this point? Do you ever utter hasty, angry words, which are like sharp spears or knives, and wound and cut the hearts of those who love you? Do you ever yield to a sullen, dreary sort of frame, or such a hard, rocky, stony one, that nothing will move you, or lead you to relent, or to speak a kind word, or break through the reserve in which you have wrapped yourself? Do you ever sit side by side with a sister or class-fellow at school, and any one can see the scowls and black looks which tell a tale of ill-will and bad temper only too plainly? Do not conceal from yourself that all this is downright, positive sin before God! It is a breach of the sixth commandment, for it is the very spirit of murder cherished in the heart. Give no quarter to such terrible enemies to your soul’s peace. Look well at them and see their hatefulness and deformity. Then through the power of the Spirit, cast them out, and let the love of Christ and the peace of Christ rule within. Instead of these sharp excrescences on the corner-stone — let there be the very reverse. Let it be set with the fair gems of meekness, gentleness, tender thoughtfulness for others, a fixed resolution never to give pain by the least look or expression of ill-temper. And where you fail, let there be deep humiliation and earnest prayer for the upholding of the divine arm.

Closely allied with the evils of temper is the depreciation of others, and the evil speaking which is often heard in the school or the family. A clever girl will make unkind remarks about the dull, plodding girl, who may be far more diligent than herself, and guided by a far higher motive. The girl who has something of personal attractions, whose means enable her to dress more expensively, or whose parents are in higher position of life — will show by a haughty look or word how far she thinks she excels the companion walking by her side. In a thousand ways, vanity and pride, envy and jealousy come in and put many a stumbling-block in the way. If young folks only knew the beauty of a lowly, humble, loving spirit! If they only knew how this clothing of humility, this ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is infinitely more precious than any amount of natural ability, rank, money, or good looks! If only they would judge themselves by the standard of Christ — the only measure which will stand in the great day! If this were the case, there would be more consciousness of personal failings, and far more kindliness and charity towards others.

There is another fault which is not uncommon, and which is very injurious both to yourself and others. Lack of punctuality is an evil which is treated very lightly by those who are guilty of it — but which is very destructive of your own peace and that of those whom it affects. Late in the morning, so that private prayer is omitted or hurried over — or your chair is vacant at family prayer. Late in meeting a friend, so that half an hour is wasted. Late at church or Sunday-school, so that you fail to get benefit yourself or to do much good to those under your care. Late for dinner, late for tea, late, late, always late, is the story of some lives, to the infinite annoyance of those about them! Give yourself a bad mark, or put yourself to some severe penance, when you find this becoming your habit more or less. When traveling in the Lake District on one occasion I saw on the splash-board of the coach a brass case, and within it a large turnip-shaped watch. I soon found out the purpose of it. The coach must be punctual. It must be at each station at the appointed time. So it was. Never once was it late. I wish I could impress on the heart of each young lady the message that watch seemed to sound in my ears, "Keep good time. Never keep others waiting. Minutes and moments are gold dust, and ought not to be wasted. In everything you do be punctual."

There is only one other matter on which I would touch. There is a lack of thorough truthfulness and sincerity, which perhaps is the worst fault of any I have named. I am not speaking so much of positive lying, which is one of the most deadly sins that any one can commit. If any reader is given to this, be assured that you are as yet in the power of him who is "the father of lies," and that you have no part or lot in Christ. "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone!" But I am rather speaking of those habits of deceit and double-mindedness, of those lesser perversions of truth which some practice, and yet try to imagine that they are followers of Christ. There is a very wide field for self-examination as to this.

One tries to shake off her own share of wrongdoing by laying it at the door of another. A second pretends to study and do good work — when in reality she has used others’ brains, or has looked at the answers. A third is always exaggerating, or telling what is not true, but something like it. A figure is altered — a quarter of an hour is added to the clock — a turn is given to a conversation which was never intended. Again and again you have noticed something of this kind in a young person, until it is plain as noonday that there is a lack of sincerity, which destroys all your confidence in her.

If you have the least suspicion that this traitor of insincerity lurks in your breast, let there be no truce with it. Search it out from its hiding-place and bring it into the light of Heaven. Be true as steel. Be genuine and sincere as before the great Heart-searcher. Possibly, through bad example, or through training under a governess who drew you into it — you may have been wrapped in the coils of this sin for many a day — nevertheless by grace you may conquer. You may become thoroughly open and honorable in the smallest things and in the greatest. You may be known to be so truthful that no one would ever doubt a word you said. You may put to shame everything that is dishonest and dishonorable, and raise the standard of all who live with you.

If you would be a polished corner-stone in the Temple of the Great King, allow none of these sins and failings to abide. Be watchful over your own heart and life. Place yourself often in the presence of Christ and study His perfect character. Give no quarter to sins, small or great — but fight against them day by day. And remember the promise of the Comforter. The Holy Spirit alone can effectually mortify in you all evil, and fashion you in the likeness of the Savior. Every good thought, every holy desire, every right motive, every righteous and loving word or deed — is the fruit of His indwelling and transforming power. Therefore look up to the exalted and glorified Savior, to allow His Spirit to fill in you more and more. Study the declarations of His willingness to bestow this all-needful gift (Luke 11:9-13; John 7:37-39; John 14:16-17, John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15). If thus you act, watching against sin, looking to Jesus, depending on the Spirit — then faults and blemishes will be subdued, and in the Eternal Temple you will shine forth to the praise and glory of God.

Gracious Spirit! dwell with me;
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would Your Life in mine reveal:
And with action bold and meek,
Would for Christ my Savior speak.

Truthful Spirit! dwell with me:
I myself would truthful be,
And with wisdom, kind and clear,
Let Your life in mine appear;
And with actions brotherly
Speak my Lord’s sincerity.

Tender Spirit! dwell with me:
I myself would tender be;
Shut my heart up like a flower;
At temptation’s darkest hour;
Open it when shines the sun,
And His love by fragrance own.

Holy Spirit! dwell with me;
I myself would holy be:
Separate from sin, I would
Choose and cherish all things good.
And whatever I can be,
Give to Him, who gave me Thee!