I Corinthians 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” NIV
Every religion and ideology has certain visual symbols which represent who or what they are. Buddhist have the lotus flower. Islam is sometimes symbolized by a crescent which is a symbol of God’s sovereignty. Marxism had the hammer and cycle to stand for the union of the factory and field worker. You may belong to a Sorority or Fraternity which has a symbol of your union. Well Christianity is no exception in having a visual symbol. Yes, we have a symbol that is powerful. It’s the symbol of the Cross. Why the Cross? I’m glad you asked. There is hope in the message of the cross.
What did the world look like the day Jesus died on the cross? It looked like evil had won the war. It looked like the forces of darkness had completely taken over. The disciples were dejected and totally lost hope. Gloom and doom! It looked as if it was all over. Let me remind you those were just the circumstances and not the end of the story. That’s why as believers we walk by faith and not by sight. But here is what really happened! What Satan intended for evil, God worked for good. (Hallelujah!) On the day Satan’s soldiers nailed the last nail in Jesus’ hand, all they did was seal the deal. Victory! Did you feel that? Jesus’ death bridged the eternal gap between a perfect God and a selfish and spoiled creation. Jesus died and rose again. Jesus defeated sin, death, and the grave. God won the victory over Satan and got His family back. Now that is what really happened on the darkest day in history. God transformed the worst deed in human history into the greatest victory ever. As believers we must realize the cross gives us hope. When God brought triumph out of the jaws of apparent defeat, or brings strength from a moment of ultimate weakness, what might He do with the apparent failures and hardships of your life? It’s time to shout! The cross reminds us what to do when our world is coming down on us, we’re at the end of our rope, it looks like all is lost, or we completely blow it and God seems far away. Just look at the Cross. The songwriter said it best, “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.” There is Victory in Jesus! This is why the cross is the symbol of our faith.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your love. We thank you for the gift of your Son. Help us to submit our will to your will and live in a manner that pleases you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen! May God bless you and your families with perfect peace and joy.
“TGBTG”
Minister Kevin D.