Ministry Resources

It’s About the Cross

Since my Mayo appointments have been pushed out to April 30 & May 1, I am in between health updates, but I do believe that there is more to share. I have been feeling lead to write a blog about the Cross. A couple blogs ago I talked about Billy Graham and shared how he was a man that was totally sold out for God and how God used Him to reach millions with the salvation message of the Cross. We do not hear enough about the need and significance of the Cross as well as its redemptive power to a lost, hurting and hopeless world.

One of Rev. Graham’s quotes was, “God proved his love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, I love you.” The cross represents Jesus with outstretched hands telling all mankind, come to me, I love you and will forgive you for I have died so that you can live. Why do we try to find joy and hope outside of God? We will never find it for God has created us to worship him! Many go frantically through life trying to fill God place in our hearts with different things such as; jobs, position, power, health, greed, self-reliance, with the results of our efforts being confusion, fear, hopelessness and a sense of loss, and that there must be more.

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We do not need to try to figure it out on own, God has made a way when there didn’t seem to be a way. God knew we needed a Savior, a perfect flawless sacrifice to forgive the sins of mankind, so He sent His one and only Son to be crucified on the Cross for our sins. The Cross has redeemed us from the power of sin in our lives and the resurrection defeated death once and for all 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting.” Praise God, thank you Father for the Cross! See, those who have run to the Cross and repented for their sins, and surrendered their lives to Him and have accepted the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus and have no fear of death for we know that life does not end here. Even if you live to be one hundred years old on this earth it fails in comparison to eternity with Jesus. James 4:14, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? for you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

The scriptures affirm that we all will die once, Hebrews 9:27 says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement.” Listen friends, we have all sinned and fallen short of Gods Glory (Romans 3:23). But the love that God has shown us through the Cross, gives us a confidence, peace and a JOY that this world will never be able to give. For in His presence there is fullness of JOY (Psalm 16:11).

As I sit and wait for the next set of appointments and scans to see if and where the cancer is and as I am fairly confident that there is more treatments ahead. I do not fear what the future may hold, for my hope has been and will remain in God no matter what doctors or scans tell me. Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” It doesn’t matter what your going through for God is faithful, and is there for you. Run and kneel at the foot of the cross, Jesus is waiting with outstretched arms. What will you find when you get there…love, forgiveness, acceptance, joy, peace, mercy, grace and transformation unlike anything you can imagine. Don’t wait any longer friend; there may never be another time such as this. God has you reading this blog for a reason, come to Him.

The Cross makes a way when there was no other way, Jesus who sinned not, took on the sins and the burdens of the world so that you and I how are underserving can be forgiven and have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me (John 14:6).” The Cross made the difference…the Cross made it possible.

Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and their confidence.