Centuries ago, when master stonemasons prepared dressed stone for building, they would put their maker’s mark on each piece. When we visit old buildings and castles today, we can sometimes still see these maker’s marks, weathered, but visible on the stone blocks.

I wonder if the masons who prepared the stone for the temple that Solomon built did the same? I wonder if, on the day this temple was finally completed, they felt a deep sense of pride that somewhere, underneath the finery of the decorations and the gold and the intricate carving, there were foundation stones with their mark on them?

The temple, like the medieval castles of our country, was certainly built to last, yet in the end, it was still destroyed and the very stones on which the makers may have left their mark were thrown down. Even the most impressive building will eventually crumble to dust. If we really want to leave our mark, we need to put our time, effort and attention towards something truly eternal.

Now, perhaps more than ever, there are so many calls on our attention, but Paul reminded the church in Corinth to “not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

If we invest our time, our talents and our efforts into the things of God, then we will be contributing towards something that will last for eternity. Like the stone masons, the evidence of our contribution may not be obvious to those who come after us, but we will know, and God will know.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH