Restored Ruins (Cornerstone)

[Verse 1]
I'm walking around in downtown and I look at the surrounding crowd
Although everybody seems to succeed and abound
In what they're doing and look like they have found
What they're looking for, there is a mask, a shroud

Veiling all of our faces, covering the deepest places
In our hearts that we haven't faced yet
Still, it is something we all are facing
And therefore, have to embrace it

But often we're trying to fill this hole with things that won't makes us whole
Instead, we see later that they stole
More of ourselves. They leave us more broken
Than before, instead of repairing they have taken

The little that had remained… So, there's this void in our hearts and minds
This feeling of existential anxiety we're desperately trying to hide
That leaves us searching for something more. We hope to find
That there is more meaning in life because we've come to realize

That it doesn't matter how much we gratify our appetite
That at the end of the day, only the natural and material life cannot satisfy
That there has to be something more, our existence has to be justified
That we are not born to just die. (What is the meaning of life?)

We all have a sense of purpose, but at the same time think that it is by coincidence
That we are here. Isn't there an inconsistence in this system?
We live as if there is something to live for like our existence makes sense
But living this way doesn't. It’ll all fall in place, once we find the Essence

So, I see broken ruins, trying to escape this question by doing their everyday doings
Living life by killing time, pretending as if everything is fine, but just fooling
Themselves. Chasing after the wind by trying to fill their appetite, but still drooling
Of hunger. Our lives are utterly meaningless unless we find its meaning, so we better start looking!

[Verse 2]
There is a stone missing from the foundation of every human wreck, leaving it weak
So, when we try to build ourselves up, it will only stay for a fleeting
Moment, a brief time. We will continue to collapse if we don't seek
A better solution. But the problem is, this hole in our foundation has a shape so unique

That whatever we're trying to fill it with, it won't really fit
Because it's not clearly it
We need a cornerstone that is perfectly shaped and built
Something that could bear the weight of our existence, our brokenness and guilt

That could give meaning to our being
Is there such a Being, overseeing our living?
There is, we only need the courage to open our eyes to see Him
Not stick our heads in the sand, but actually meet Him

Christ is that cornerstone, the backbone
Of our beings. His resurrection is a powerful roar
Echoing through the ages of time, showing there's more
Than just this life to live for

Oh, how euphoric is this calling, of this hope that is dawning
On our beings from the daybreak of the resurrection! The morning
Is here! There is something that can fill the wanting
Of our hearts! There is a new, unending life, that is pouring

And overflowing. His resurrection gives a completely new meaning once we know Him
Because it's not just an event that happened, but an existential experience that surely
Starts to change our growing, that slowly but completely disrupts the groaning
Of our deepest selves. But first, we have to face it and own it

Break through the surface of our masks and veils, to our real faces
See ourselves for what we really are: decayed ruins, broken vases
In desperate need of finding that stone that cannot be replaced with
Anything else, a right foundation that we could be based on

[Verse 3]
Christ is not just the cornerstone, He is also the builder, rebuilding our beings
Using the most unlikely building materials, our own broken pieces
To piece together magnificent masterpieces
Giving new meaning to what we thought was ceaseth

God is in the business of resurrecting, redeeming, rebuilding, and restoring
From ruins to riches, bringing beauty instead of ashes, glory
Instead of guilt! Watering the wastelands, turning mourning
Into dancing. Oh, wake up everybody, stop yawning, it's dawning, it's already morning!

He is making all things new, not making all new things –
Therefore, He does not disregard us because of our sins
But makes us new in spite of them!
We are not replaced, but redeemed, salvation breathes a solution to the problem!

But still, we would all be ruined if the cornerstone would be removed
Therefore, in order to bring peace and to be used
By God, we have to accept and get used
To the fact that our flaws do not make us useless. Still, it cannot be an excuse

To continue living the lives we've been used to. And at the same time
It is through our brokenness that Christ's light can still shine
It's not just the way it gets in, but also the way it gets out, so our weaknesses can be signs
Showing people that if it weren't for Him, we wouldn't even be alive!

I mean truly alive, not just walking wrecks, living deads
But living a life filled with meaning, instead!
That's what the Kingdom in construction will look like, I bet:
We're all broken stones, that’ll fit perfectly together, empowered by His death

And resurrection. For there's no more condemnation because of salvation
But perfection takes sanctification's manifestation
So, when God looks at you, He sees Christ's cleanness, not your imperfections
This is the scandal of grace, so utterly perplexing

Although in wrecks, the Kingdom of God is being erected
Although in ruins, there's a glorious city being built on our defects and
Dysfunctional beings. The Absolute Being who gives meaning to our lives is collecting
All of the pieces of His divine puzzle so that all of us would be accepted and connected!

It is a puzzling paradox: we are restored ruins, who are called
Without a crack, but still broken
Flawless in Christ, but on our own fallen
Still sinning, failing, and falling, but in Christ solemn

Created in the image of God, but now separated from Him and flawed
Beautiful masks hiding our true faces, creating a fragile facade
That needs a strong cornerstone. Oh, let's laud
For it is by His blood that the mud on our faces is cleansed. It's finally dawn

Therefore, even though we fall...
We are restored!