[Y]ou are no longer foreigners . . . but . . . members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (Eph. 2:19-21)

Because Christ is the chief cornerstone, the whole building is designed around and upon him. His words—the wisdom of the ages—comprise the foundation on which the living stones are built. As given to us by Peter: "[Y]ou have come to him [Jesus Christ], the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are built into a spiritual house. . . . For in Scripture it says: 'See, I [God] lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame'" (1 Peter 2:4-6).
     In his writings, Peter referenced the Lord God, who had foretold—hundreds of years before the time of Christ—that he would place the stone on which his spiritual temple would grow. Jesus Christ himself made reference to his words being equivalent to that of a foundation.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matt. 7:24, 25)

Life in this world is affected by the foundation on which one chooses to build. When it is upon a rock, aspirations of the heart are fulfilled. The living temple of God is not only about an afterlife but also a fulfilled life. When viewed through the eyes of Heaven, life on Earth is affected positively. It is understood that the source of spiritual light emanates from the throne of the spiritual temple—the throne of Christ. Hence, it is to the Son of God that the sons of God look:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16)

This high priest in Heaven is the one who gives mercy and grace to all who approach the throne. Jesus was tempted on all points, yet he did not sin. He can identify with human frailty; he is the one who provides "help" in "time of need." "[W]e have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1).
     It is by the Son—through the Holy Spirit—that humankind has forgiveness and direct access to the Father. "For through him [Christ] we . . . have access to the Father by one Spirit" (Eph. 2:18). "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). The Son of God is the intercessor between God and man. He is the living Stone on which the living stones are built, and his throne is overall.
     The living stones of this spiritual temple are members of God's household and as such make up what God calls the "body of Christ." This body of believers is of spiritual design. As each part of the human body is unique and necessary for the entire body to function properly, so is the case with the spiritual body of Christ on Earth.

The body [of Christ] is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. . . . Now the body is not made up of one part but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? . . . But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. . . . God has combined the members of the body . . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Cor. 12:12-18, 24-26)

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Cor. 12:27 KJV)

It is the will of Heaven that all members recognize their God-given place and let their thoughts track with that of Christ. As given to us by the apostle Paul: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).
     The mind of Christ fed upon the truth and his thoughts were arranged accordingly. This is what Christ asks of the living stones in his temple—to emulate his words whether given directly or by revelation to his apostles. As recorded in the writings of Paul: "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11, 12).
     From his throne in Heaven, the Son of God gave revelation to Paul (and the other apostles) so that the living stones of the spiritual temple would have a defined understanding of their place in this life—confident of Heaven's will. As given to us by the apostle John: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 2 KJV). The health of the physical body, the "life" of the soul, and prosperity all represent fulfillment; it is what Heaven seeks to give to the sons of God.
     By responding to the words of Christ, the body of Christ is strengthened—yielding a clear vision of divine will. It is in this manner that individuals can find their purpose in this world, know an inner sense of fulfillment, and live a life founded upon the wisdom of the ages: the rock, Christ Jesus.

Photo is courtesy of NASA: http://heritage.stsci.edu/gallery/galindex.html