The Cross: America’s Only Hope

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"If you take a few minutes to read any local or national news, you will find tragic stories. They often surround a person or group of people making poor moral choices that harm themselves and others. Somehow in the process, they convinced themselves that what was wrong, was right. This is at the heart of the crisis in our nation. The battle we face is not a political or ideological one. It is a spiritual one."

Above America’s dusty and grim skyline is an image. If you look carefully, you should be able to see it. There is one image of a long vertical wooden beam, then a second one of a shorter horizontal beam. Then slowly they come together and form the image of an old wooden cross that is blood stained. And there is a light shining from the heavens down on the cross. That is the vision of America’s only hope.

It is the sign of the cross. It is where Jesus, the Son of God, suffered and died for the sins of Americans and the whole world. And the hope of this cross lay in its purpose.

At Jesus’ birth an angel announced to shepherds in a field, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Save means “to rescue.” Rescue from what? Sin, which are the wrongs we do against ourselves, others, but primarily against God our Creator. Sin is what lives within our hearts. All of us are born with it. It is that natural bent within us to pursue our own desires, versus God’s. It is that sense of refusal to submit to His ways. Our sin is demonstrated in every lustful image in our mind, every selfish thought and act, every hurtful word spoken. It is like an inner moral rot that we are blinded to, and work to justify.

Jesus was sent from heaven to die, to recuse us from this. His suffering and death were the only means through which it could be done. The corruption by religious and political figures that sentenced Jesus to death was unjust. The crown of thorns pushed down into his head was excruciating. The tearing apart of Jesus’ flesh through gruesome whippings was bloody. Jesus’ weak body being hung on two pieces of wood, by being nailed to it through his hands and feet, was inhumane.

The horror of the cross illustrates the severity of our wrongs. Though we do not see them as evil, in the eyes of God they are. Our actions are unjust, wicked and only the cross can satisfy the punishment that is due for them.

Despite what we think of ourselves, in the courtroom of God, our horrific sinfulness requires the ultimately penalty of death. However, in the greatest display of mercy the world has ever known, God Almighty provided a better way to satisfy His justifiable penalty. He sent His Only Son to die in our place. He poured out the rightful punishment due for us on His perfect, sinless and holy Son. Jesus lovingly took our place.

And what is the validation of all this? Jesus not only died, but three days later rose from the dead and is still alive today! His resurrection means He overcame and conquered all our sinfulness that was poured out upon Him. He destroyed it all! He is the victor over sin, death and the Devil himself. Now because He lives, so can you. Because He has conquered, so can you. That is the hope of the cross for every individual and that is the hope of America!

Through the cross, a hard-hearted man can become loving, a bitter woman can become compassionate, a divided nation can become one.

A prayer for you - God in heaven, we can see the darkness of America. Evil and injustice in so many places. We are a broken people. Only you can save us! Examine our hearts O God. Help us to turn from our sin and to you for mercy. Wash us. Make us clean we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Sees What You’re Covering Up

Photo by Lukas from Pixabay

"Suppress. Conceal. Obscure. What do these words communicate? They tell the story of human nature. They show how when we have knowingly done something wrong, we instinctively take steps to hide or bury our problem."

One of Israel’s greatest kings was guilty of this.

David was just a boy when he was chosen by God to be king, but it was not until he was 30 years old before he ascended to the throne. When he did, God’s hand was upon him in mighty fashion. David’s success was immediate, his fame spread quickly and the kingdom of Israel expanded with astonishing dominance.

One day, at the height of David’s fame and power, something happened that changed the direction of David’s life and Israel’s future.

King David typically went out to battle with his forces, but one time he decided to not go. During an afternoon while walking on the roof of his palace he looked far and wide, admiring his success. While doing so, something caught his attention. His eyes were drawn to a particular home in the distance. He could see a beautiful woman washing herself. She was engaged in a ceremonial cleansing. King David, a godly man, did not turn away. As David watched, he sent someone to find out who she was, then summoned her to the palace. To refuse any king, could mean death, so she went. Her name was Bathsheba. When she met the king, he took and lay with her. David had not just committed adultery with a woman, who was the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers, Uriah. He had raped her, then sent her back home.

Soon Bathsheba realized she was pregnant and sent word to the king. David quickly employed a strategy to cover up his sin. He ordered Uriah to be pulled from the battle and brought to the king. David encouraged Uriah to go home to be with his wife. However, Uriah spent the night with the king’s servants out of solidarity with his fellow soldiers who were still fighting. David underestimated the character of Uriah. Finally, the king had Uriah sent back to the war, and orders were given to place him where the fiercest fighting was so that he might be killed. Then after Uriah’s death, David took Bathsheba as his wife.

David’s cover up worked! That is until God broke His silence by sending Nathan the prophet. Through him, God confronted David with his many sins. When David’s eyes were finally opened, God firmly rebuked him saying, “I anointed you king over Israel…Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?” (2 Samuel 12:7,9) God came with swift judgement, which brought David to his knees in brokenness. He immediately repented and turned towards his Lord. In response, God showed him mercy, sparing His life and granting him forgiveness. Even so, the effects of David’s sin remained upon him for the rest of his life.

Always remember these three truths...

1-Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. He sees all and knows all. What we can hide from others, we can never hide from God.

2-God is just and will bring His judgement upon us for what we have done. No matter how skillful we might be in trying to hide our evil deeds, no one can escape God’s justice.

3-There is mercy available to all, no matter what we have done. This is why God sent Jesus from heaven to earth, and why Jesus died and rose again. For those who admit their sin, turn from it and place their faith in Christ, there is forgiveness. Yes, there will be consequences for what we have done, but in the midst of that, through Jesus we can be forgiven and receive the promise of new life.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, open our spiritual eyes so that we can know, that you see what we have been trying to hide. Then bring us to confess our sin to you and turn us from our ways, that we might experience your mercy and undeserving forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Has Something Gone Terribly Wrong?

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"Have you ever known someone, where at some point in their life, something went terribly wrong? And you thought, 'If they continue down this path, they are going to wind up in jail, living on the street or maybe even dead?'”

For nearly 10 years I served inmates in our small rural county jail as a minister, and saw many come through our Bible studies and outreaches. They were there because of drugs, alcohol, theft, sexual violations and more. Men and women. Young and old. While they sat with me in their white and orange jail issued clothes, I would often say, “When you were young and thought about the future, you never set out to be in jail. You are here because something went wrong.”

Have you ever known someone, where at some point, something went terribly wrong and one bad decision seemed to pile on another? And maybe you thought, “If they continue down this path, outside of a miracle of God, they are going to wind up in jail, the hospital, on the street or maybe even dead?”

Jesus told a story about a young man like this. One day he came to his father in a spirit of anger and hate and demanded his inheritance while his father still lived. His dad amazingly and graciously complied and gave his younger son what he wanted. Then his son packed up his belongings and abruptly left home and family. He travelled far away to a large and bustling city, where bad decisions began to mount, and there he, “squandered his property in reckless living” (Luke 15:13) and eventually he spent everything he had been given. Then the situation turned even worse.

A serious famine hit the region where he was living. Consequently, He became penniless, friendless, jobless, foodless and homeless. At this point in his life, his dad described him as dead and lost. Things had gone terribly wrong, and he was speeding head-first down a path of destruction and ruin. His only hope was a miracle.

And that is what began to happen! God’s invisible hand was mysteriously working on the young man’s heart, where in a moment of wise reflection he said to himself, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!” (Luke 15:17) This led to a key turning point where he stood up and began a long and discouraging walk back home.

While still a long way out, his father saw him and immediately ran to meet his son. After the father’s compassionate embrace, the son began his humble confession, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21). Wow! That was all his dad needed to hear, when he said, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate (Luke 15:24).

That miracle caused the young man’s life to go from death to life and ruin to overflowing joy. What everyone else thought was impossible; God knew was possible.

This is why Jesus was sent from heaven to earth. This is why he died and rose again. To do miracles just like this. When people are living for themselves and leaving a wake of heartache and pain wherever they go, it is easy to get frustrated and angry with them, to look down at them and write them off. But even in their sinful choices, God is merciful and patient. He does not treat us as we deserve. Instead, in His kindness, He keeps drawing us to Himself until we humble ourselves and surrender all to Him.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, there are many who are living destructive lives. God, you are their only hope. Intervene, I pray. Save their physical lives and their eternal souls from destruction. Open their spiritual eyes to see the danger they are facing, then mercifully bring them to repentance that they might live again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Are You Carrying a Heavy Burden?

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"What burden are you carrying? There is someone that can lift your burden. He can set you free from it. His name is Jesus."

There are millions of people carrying heavy burdens all across our world. They cannot sleep at night and wake up tired. They have regular appointments with their counselors. Their attempts at hobbies and exercise are strategies to find relief. What burden are you carrying? There is someone that can lift your burden. He can set you free from it. His name is Jesus.

Once He was invited to dinner at a religious leader’s home. Other religious leaders also came, and together they sat down at the table and began visiting. At the time, Jesus’ fame as a preacher was spread far and wide, so word circulated quickly where He was. A certain prostitute who was impacted by Jesus and His ministry learned of His whereabouts. She made her way into the house and found herself standing before Jesus and the other guests. She stood without saying a word, then began weeping. So much, that her tears fell on Jesus’ feet. Seeing that, she bent down and began wiping the tears off with her hair and then proceeded to anoint His feet with a flask of oil she had brought.

During the whole process, the religious leaders were incensed at the woman and Jesus. Noticing this, Jesus spoke to the dinner host, addressing the host’s attitude toward her, then eventually turned back to the woman and said, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). That incensed the leaders even more. Then He spoke one final word before she humbly slipped out, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 7:50).

This prostitute was carrying a burden, just like all those preachers in that room, all the people in her city, and like you and me. Her burden was that of prostitution, for others it was different.

But when she heard of Jesus, something awakened in her that no doubt said, “This is it!” And she overcame the barriers before her to get to Jesus and when she got there, He did not disappoint her.

She found forgiveness for all the wrong she had done! The guilt and shame she had been trying to outrun was finally washed away. How did that happen? Faith. Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you.”

It was her faith that provided forgiveness. It is interesting to note what Jesus did not say. He did not say anything about religion, morality, goodness or education. Just faith. He did not refer to anything about personal will power, having a positive attitude, perseverance or working hard. Just faith. And what is faith? It was her belief, trust and full confidence in Jesus.

We are all naturally wired to be independent and achieve. We want to earn what we have. Our culture is set up that way from our parents and high school coaches, to our professors and bosses. “Work hard and succeed,” we are told. “It is up to you,” other says. Faith in Jesus is opposite. This woman simply had faith and her life was instantly transformed. She believed Jesus was the Son of God. She believed she had done wrong and needed forgiveness. She trusted that Jesus had the power to forgive. She was confident He was sufficient for all she needed. She believed with all her heart Jesus could lift her burden.

Then He said, “go in peace.” No doubt the immoral life she led weighed on her. She not only needed forgiveness, but peace. Often the foolish things we do cause great amounts of stress and anxiousness. In one moment, her simple faith brought forgiveness and peace. Lay your burden down at the feet of Jesus, and fully trust Him to lift it from you.

A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will help us to release our burden of sin to you, and in exchange provide us forgiveness and peace. Only you can do this. No one, nor anything else. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”