At the center of Christian faith stands a great pillar. It was and remains a symbol of the greatest sacrifice ever known to man. It is the cross. Many songs have been written about the cross. "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day." Recently I heard one that said, "The first time I saw love it was hanging on a tree, the first time I saw life it was dying there for me." Its songs like these that paint a picture of the importance of the cross to our life. For without it there would have been no way to enter into the promise of eternal life and a life free from bondage, sin and death.
For some it may be hard to believe in a God that would require a sacrifice of this magnitude. Perhaps they place the emphasis completely on the death and miss the love that is required for a Father to give His only Son for a world that is unworthy of this gift. Its because we could do nothing in and of ourselves to bring salvation that we required a God that would give a sacrifice so great. The Word of God says, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Jesus willingly gave His life so that we might live. Not just a natural life, but an eternal life. He reconnected us to God's purpose for mankind; to have dominion, to rule and reign on earth.
There can be no resurrection without something dying. Jeanne Guyon says this in her masterful book, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, "But you will be amazed to find that there is only a short space between your sacrifice and your resurrection!" The time for Jesus was 3 days. He was crucified and buried and 3 days later he rose again. In His resurrection He conquered sin, death and the grave. Isaiah 25:8 tells us, He will swallow up death in victory... We also find, For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
What is very interesting to notice is that our resurrection is an instantaneous thing. Immediately upon confessing and believing in Christ as Lord and Savior we are resurrected from dead to living. Of course there is constant work being done to perfect us but we are immediately translated into the Kingdom of God. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:13-14)
So being aware of the cross and what it means to those who choose to believe, serve and worship God through Jesus who is Lord and Savior, we can allow it to serve its purpose in our lives. We must not ever allow it to just be a symbol but it must become the resting place. We must continually turn and return to the cross. Daily we are told to take up our cross and follow Christ. (Luke 9:23) Through every hardship and trial, every up and down, every high and low; we focus ourselves on the redemption we have been given yet will never be worthy of. We allow God's mercy, grace and love to keep us and make us whole. We allow His righteousness and holiness to be etched in our hearts. We allow His Word, that died on that cross, to be hidden in our hearts. Its only in this continual turning and returning to the cross that we can be firmly established in our faith and perfected for the coming of our Lord, Christ Jesus.
That is what I call the Centrality of the Cross.
Until next time, continue to look to the cross for the healing, restoration, saving and redemption that is rightfully yours! Be Blessed!
