Tuesday, May 12, 2020

I came by the way of the Cross

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18


I awoke this morning to this song running through my mind...By the Way of the Cross.  I think on the lyrics quite often.  Because I can picture the scene so well.  It's how I came to be saved too. I too came by the way of the cross. 


Condemned to die on a cross for crimes he had done
He was guilty- everyone could see.
But his destiny was changed as he looked at Christ and said,
"When Your kingdom comes, remember me."
In Paradise that day, he stood
Just like the Lord had said he would
Surrounded by those who had gone before.
One said, "Friend, how did you come? What are the deeds you have done?"
With tears in his eyes, I can hear him reply,
"There are no merits to my name- no works that I can claim. He Who brought me here told me to say...

(Chorus)
I have come by the way of the cross.
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done.
It's the suffering of God's Son.
I have come by the way of the cross."

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.
Hopelessly lost, I could not find my way.
Till His glorious light of love shone down on me.
His mercy washed all my sins away!
And what He did for me that day
Was a price I could not pay.
And by His grace, I too can say- forever say...
(Chorus)

Bridge
I see millions gathered 'round the throne
From every kindred and tongue-
Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
And as they cast their crowns down at His feet
This will be my story- this will be my song,...
(Chorus "We")

There is no other way.. but the cross!
By the cross! By the cross!

I too came by the way of the cross.  My life was began in sin just like yours.  Like everyone who has ever lived since Adam and Eve.   Born into trouble of the worst kind.  Condemned from birth to Hell because of the foulest of things...sin.  In need of a Savior, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

My friend try this one thing, in this I beg you to do, please try.  

Take a step back from your thoughts of what you want and where you want to go in this life...ask yourself what is it you are REALLY searching for?  There are countless trillions of pieces of countless shapes and sizes, but only one fits that shape in your heart that you long to see filled.  There's a God shaped hole that can only ever be filled by Jesus. 

Jesus, in today's vernacular, went from Heaven to Earth, then went through Hell on Earth, to Hell, then after a brief stay, returned to Heaven to make it possible to BE that singular piece that makes your heart complete.  You see, nowhere in the trillions of pieces on Earth will you find it, because it's in Heaven.  No amount of money or success or possessions or power, nothing will ever match perfection found only in Christ. 

You struggle and strive over so many things.  Just like Martha was to Mary's sitting at Jesus feet.  Yet as Jesus says, so I say to you...come to the foot of the cross.  There you will find everything you have been looking for all your life. 

To gain your life...you must lose it. 
To live means dying.  

Sounds backwards but that's what you do when you come to Christ.  What would it gain a man to have the whole world but lose his soul?  What will he or she give in exchange for their soul? 

Money, power, wealth of any kind, possessions without number mean nothing to God.  

The only valuable thing in this universe, the only thing that continues when this universe will pass is the human soul and spirit.  Where you spend eternity is what you determine in the here and now.  

Choice is what Jesus brought you when He went through all His 30 or so years on this planet.  What He willingly put Himself through with beatings, scourges, and being nailed to a cross.  Hanging there until all the sin of all mankind was paid for. 
But the best part was to come. "It is FINISHED!" He cried out.  The deed was done.  The price now paid in full.  In your place He stood.  The choice was now available to you and all who would come to have eternal life through Him.

But, my friend, you must ask Him for it.

You need to stop living for yourself and acknowledge your own need to be saved.  
Its far more important than money, power, or possessions because when you die none of that goes with you.  Only your choice goes with you.  Before anyone says it...not choosing is a choice in and of itself.  Satan owns the fence of indecision.  He wants people on that fence.  Many trillions of people will stand before Christ on the day of judgement who will have had been on that fence.  All will be found guilty.  

So today, take a REAL look at your life. 
It's not about freedoms won or lost.  
It's not about who has the most toilet paper. 
It's not about a virus or political issues. 

Have you come by the way of the cross?
That's what this moment of your reading this has come to. It's come to this question.  Is Jesus Christ alone your Savior?  Come today, ask Him today to come into your life and save you.  Get off the fence. 

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