THE CROSS THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The cross of Christ stands at the very center of the Christian faith, towering above all human wisdom and glory. What appeared to the world as weakness was, in truth, the mighty power of God at work for our salvation.
The apostle proclaimed that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Strip Christianity of the cross, and nothing remains but empty morality and powerless sentiment.
At the cross, we see the seriousness of sin and the depth of divine love joined together. Sin was not dismissed, excused, or ignored; it was judged fully and finally. The spotless Son of God bore our iniquities in His own body, becoming a curse for us so that we might be brought near to God (Isaiah 53:5; Galatians 3:13). If anyone doubts the ugliness of sin, let him look to the cross. If anyone doubts the love of God, let him look there again.
The cross humbles the proud heart. No one comes to Calvary boasting in merit or achievement. All stand on level ground, guilty and undone, saved only by grace. The apostle declared that he resolved to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Here is the wisdom that silences human pride: salvation accomplished not by human effort, but by divine sacrifice.
Yet the cross does not merely forgive; it transforms. Those who have been united with Christ in His death are called to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). The old self, once ruled by sin, has been crucified with Him, so that we may live unto God. The cross severs our allegiance to the world and binds us in love to the Savior who gave Himself for us.
To live beneath the shadow of the cross is to live with gratitude, reverence, and hope. The same cross that paid our debt also guarantees our future, for the One who died there did not remain in the grave. Because Christ was lifted up, He now draws all who trust Him to Himself (John 12:32). The cross, once an instrument of death, has become the doorway to life everlasting.
Let us never grow casual about Calvary. Let us preach it, cherish it, and cling to it with unwavering faith. For in the cross of Christ, God has spoken His final word on sin, love, and redemption.
____________
Lord Jesus, keep the cross ever before my eyes. Teach me to see my sin rightly, to trust fully in Your sacrifice, and to live a life shaped by gratitude and obedience to You. Amen.
BDD
