CROSSES By: Patsy Weiser
It seems these days that everywhere you look you see crosses – on clothing, jewelry, home décor, etc. I get excited about that. But I often wonder if the people buying these items really understand what that cross represents or are they just purchasing them because it is stylish. I hope not! However, I do believe that even Christians often display a cross and yet not consider the awesome significance it represents.
The greatest, single event in all of history is summed up in the cross – the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus was God in man-form. He was born to a human woman, Mary, and came to live as a man to become the final sacrifice to once and for all pay the price for man’s fallen, sinful state. He was unjustly accused, crucified, died, and was buried - only to rise from the dead three days later on Easter Sunday to complete the work of salvation for each one of us. He did this because out of all creation, we are His prized possession. (James 1:18) All we have to do to receive this free gift is to confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts that He is the Son of God and that this really did happen. Then we will become a new creation and have the promise of eternal life. Sometimes this can be mind-boggling. That is where faith comes in. We may not understand this fully with our limited understanding, but we can embrace it knowing that God is not a man and He cannot lie. Either everything in the Bible is true are none of it is.
I like to compare this to the theory of gravity and how a jet airplane defies gravity and can fly. I can understand that concept to a point, but since this is not my field of expertise, all of it does not make perfect sense to me. Yet I can get on a plane and fly across the country believing that it will take me to my destination – in other words I have faith in it even though I don’t fully understand how it all works.
Next time you see a cross, take a minute or two to reflect on what it means and thank God for what He did for you and me on that cross. Sometimes things become so common-place that they lose their significance. Let’s not become guilty of belittling the cross by using it as a fashion statement instead of a faith statement!
If you have never asked Jesus to come into your life, you can do that right now. Just pray this prayer in faith and you can have the assurance of eternal life.
Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ paid the price for me on the cross. I believe that He died for my sins and was raised from the dead. I ask You to come into my life and cleanse me of all my sins. I believe that I am a new creature in Christ and that I will live in eternity with You someday. I ask You to be my Savior and Lord. Thank you, Jesus, for what You did for me. I ask this all in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.