In the Shadow of the Cross

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So many people are walking aimlessly, desperate for answers and solutions. Jesus is our hope. So many people are in crisis mode, seeing their savings accounts dwindling, their retirement accounts either defrauded away or devalued. Jesus is our security. So many people are distant, unfamiliar and rebelliously turning their backs on God, either willfully or in ignorance -they turn their backs on God. An aimless reliance on and uncertainty of one’s future can be swooped away and in its place can come a knowledge and rock solid assurance of the promises of God. But first one must acknowledge Christ. He said, “I am the way the truth and the light, no one can come to the Father except through me”. Is this the only way? Yes. Can’t I build up enough ‘brownie points” to merit heaven? No, it doesn’t work that way. One can only come to God through Christ. Recall what Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven, but whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 11: 32-33 NIV)

So what is keeping you from acknowledging Christ as your Lord and Savior? What is keeping you from learning about Him, and coming to God through Him? Your sinful nature, your desire to be in your comfort zone, as well as the hardness of your heart- these are all barriers that keep you from seeking the things of God. This is not unique to you. In fact we all fall short in this area, and this article is not going to change your perspective, nor your desire. That is between you and God. Any conversion will occur because the Holy Spirit initiates it. However, the foundation and a building block in which one can come to acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior is to see oneself in relation to the Almighty and Holy God. God is beyond description, beyond our comprehension, and above all, Most Holy. Holy isn’t an everyday word any more. It truly means without fault or sin. We on the other hand are not holy by nature, but find comfort in our debauchery, sinfulness and rebellion. The difference between us and our Holy God is a great canyon, wider than we can imagine. We cannot come close to the stature of His holiness, nor can we completely understand it. God knows and foreknew this. But with His overwhelming loving kindness to us, He freely gave us His Son, our Lord Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is has taken our penalty of sinfulness –which was death – a death that was the only way to atone for our horrible sins in the eyes of a Holy God. He paid this price on our behalf. Why? Love is the answer. God and His Son Jesus love us. It is not a superficial love, but a love that says He would die for us –even while we were still in rebellion against Him. This love is incredible, it is one that does not command the angels to help Him on the Cross, but to say nothing to his murderers…and humble Himself to the role of a sacrificial lamb. Remember Jesus is God in human form. He could have had His way with his tormentors, squash them like ants. But He did not do that. Why? Because of love… the same love that the Father God exhibits and lavishes upon us who believe in His Son.
Jesus’ love is evident all throughout the Bible, but it seems most notable in and around His death and resurrection. At the point of His arrest, He made it so in His divinity, that His followers wouldn’t be harmed. Prior to His crucifixion, His tormentors beat Him, spat on Him, mocked Him, flogged Him, kicked Him, and spoke blasphemous words, and who knows what else. But yet, He said to God, “Forgive them for they know not what they do”. This was God in human flesh being beaten like a common criminal, but didn’t resist. While hanging on the cross, He had a loving concern for His mother and her security. After His resurrection he spoke tenderly to Mary Magdalene, and other disciples. We see His love for His own pouring out all throughout the Bible, but most notably in the four gospels. Jesus’ love is incredibly overwhelming, it was and is hard to describe.

Our world is falling apart around us. More and more sinful behavior is becoming the norm. Large corporations are experiencing insolvency, corruption and unethical, criminal behavior is appearing on the headlines more often now. Suicides are up; a general uneasy feeling is creeping and lingering around; tensions are high and stress levels are beyond the red line. But God is on the throne! Nothing is a surprise to Him. His Son had come to save us from ourselves, our sin nature that strangles us and eventually kills us.

So…Jesus is our Bridge. He can take us from one side of the canyon (where we are) and move us to the other side (where God is). This is not to be taken lightly or with a cavalier attitude. I’m not talking about saying some prayer or reciting works on a card and then ending there, nor am I suggesting that a simple acknowledgment of Jesus alone is sufficient; for even the demons acknowledge Him as God. So if you are to say a prayer, that is wonderful, but don’t stop there. Because Jesus also said, ‘Follow me’, and following Him across the bridge also means to surrender your life to Him, to trust and obey, and worship Him… to utterly see yourself in need of a savior and thanking him daily. This should be coupled with a new desire to get into God’s Word. The more you read, the more you want to read. Will following Christ make the crisis subside? Maybe –maybe not. But your perspective will completely change. (Many of you have this notion that following Christ will mean that you have to obey a laundry list of rules, that it will eliminate your freedom, but it actually will do the opposite) Your job, your retirement account, your home and cars, your status, will all drop off your hit parade…God and His Son Jesus will become primary in your life. You will begin to think, act and talk vertically, not horizontally. Your view of life will change and you will look at the circumstances of life through a biblical viewpoint. More importantly, you will have moved from one side of the canyon to the other- with Christ as our bridge.
This has eternal consequences, in other words, where one will spend their eternity.

As I write this and some read it and say to themselves ‘whatever’ and continue to run aimlessly in circles, like a dog chasing its tail, and not having the sense to stop. The world, the devil and your own sins are powerful lures or bait. Once you sink you teeth in the hook, it’s hard to get loose. But it’s not impossible. Nothing is impossible for Christ.
If you are still in rebellion and even worse –if you are causing harm to God’s people and not thinking twice about, you should re-think your position. Those without Christ will face an awful and horrible eternity. Those who continue to turn their backs on Jesus, will not be with Him in His glory. Those who persecute and harass Christians will not go untouched.

“God is just. He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in a blazing fire, with His powerful angels, He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power on the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.”
(2 Thess 1: 61-10 NIV )

I’m mentioning this not as a condemnation or a reprimand. (Who am I to reprimand anyone!) But I mention this to show a sharp and distinct contrast, to indicate that there are many, many people who are against God and Christ. To show that darkness is very evident and in fact, it’s on the increase. However, Jesus’ love is white as snow, bright and brilliant and glorious and ever-present. He is there, where He’s always been.

Yes, today more than ever our world is teetering on one disastrous event to another. Foreclosures, job loss, bank accounts dwindling, respect, love and discernment creeping lower and lower. The lack of general decency and remorse and upswing of debauchery is increasing exponentially.

But… Jesus is our hope!

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