Living Stones

1 Peter 2:5
Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Read this and was reminded of my many trips to various old churches. On the floors of these buildings, one can find many tombstones, of famous people, of course, in the past. These could be politicians, royalty, influential businesspeople, great men of God, or anyone who is deemed to have contributed somewhat to society.
I know that what is true in the spirit is also manifested in the natural. When I walk into these old churches and see these plaques, stepping over these huge stone plates towards the alter, I’m filled with a sense of awe. These people have given so much in their generation, they sacrificed and led the way, making today possible. They were an integral part of the church then, and because the church still stands, I can now be found in it. What if they had not given? Would this church exist? Would the world be what we know of it today?
They were part of the spiritual church while alive, and when they are dead, becoming literally part of the physical church. Kind of weird to imagine holes in the church floor. What if this or that guy didn’t enter his calling? Holes in the floor and walls of the church. It’s almost like a sign to the current generation of church goers; look what the previous generation has done, now it’s your turn. Step over their dead bodies and seize the day.