Cling To The Cross

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there, by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day." Many of you will be familiar with that great old hymn lyric. Songs like "There's Room At The Cross For You", "The Old Rugged Cross", and "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" all take us to the place where our sin met its reckoning. On that cross Jesus paid the debt of our sin. The curse of sin was defeated and hope reigned once again. I am so glad that I have been to the cross and have received my pardon. Any child of God that understands the absolute significance of the cross will abandon the feeble attempts to redeem themselves. It is at the cross that we receive life. Paul abandoned everything to preach the message of the cross. Nothing else mattered in life. When we are transformed by the power of Jesus, and His finished work on the cross, we can't help but abandon the meaningless things of this temporary life in order to live eternally. May I take this moment to remind you that being a "Christian" is so much more than claiming an eternal fire insurance policy. Knowing Christ and the power of the cross is utterly transforming. When you are truly set free at the cross your life will radiate with the urgency of proclaiming the message of the cross to the world. All of us are living in an uncertain world. We live short lives that end in death. Sure, we have very brief moments of youthfulness and we spend our time and money chasing the wind. Inevitably, we find ourselves longing for a perpetual place where death is eradicated and everything is fine. There is only one place like that: in the presence of God (Heaven). Heaven isn't heaven simply because of "streets of gold" and "mansions". Heaven is heaven because of a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There are people on earth who have had luxurious homes, cars, clothes, and other extravagant things that died miserable and lost. Jesus said this in Luke 12:15: “Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” NLT‬‬ It isn't the "stuff" of life that makes life worth living, it is the One who gave it. He came into this human race to bear our sins on the cross and build a bridge of mercy by grace. Have you been to the cross? If you haven't, you have missed it all. The cross is the place we have all longed for. There, by faith, life makes complete sense. There, hope is renewed. There, shackles fall and freedom is found. There, the past is forgiven, the present makes sense, and the future is secured. Stop chasing the wind and cling to the cross.