Eddy Stone Lighthouse Rebuilt on Rock and Survives
The first beacon of the Eddy Stone Lighthouse for the English Channel off the coast of Plymouth was placed there over 250 years ago to warn ships of the dangerous reefs. Winstanley, the architect who built it, was so confident of it’s strength that he had written on the cornerstone "Blow, O ye winds! Rise, O ocean waves! Break forth ye elements and try my work!" They were foolish words. Less than 3 years later a violent storm destroyed the lighthouse along with Winstanley and others who were doing repairs on it at the time. In 1756 John Smeaton, an early leader in civil engineering, rebuilt it. He found a new sight and dug down deep into the solid rock. He was a Christian, and on the cornerstone he wrote the words, "Except the Lord build the house it’s builders labor in vain". Since then it has stood every test and it stands there today. It was built on the rock.
From a sermon by Stephen Sheane, God Uses Thorns, 11/10/2009