Sometimes we have a tendency to think of the cross and what happened on that cross as a historical event and it is "true" history, because it really happened. But if we only think of what happened over 2000 years ago we miss the very present life we have because of what Jesus did on the cross. I was talking with a man the other day and in talking with him helped him deal with some issues of sin and I brought it up that all of that was "nailed to the cross, to which he calmly replied 'Yeah I know that but..." There is no but to add to the end of that truth. Sin was dealt with once and forever. Don't minimize the power of the cross and Christ taking all the sins of the world on His back and paying the penalty for them, His life.
There is a chorus I love to praise the Lord with and it goes likes this "He paid a debt He did not owe, and I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away. So now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace all day long." ALL DAY LONG!! So this forgiveness and the realization of it in my soul generates a faith that is firm, powerful, and lasting.
This realization was realized and present for the Apostle Paul and he wrote to the Colossians in Colossians 2:14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. This very truth empowered Paul to travel all those miles sharing about this forgiveness that Jesus gave him and He dealt with so much persecution just to tell that message. It was not recent history for him. It was what drove his life. In fact, another teaching of Jesus in Luke 12:48 showed that Paul's realization of the great forgiveness he received drove him to do even more for Jesus. Luke 12:48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Paul lived out the realization of what Jesus Nailed to the Cross and the redemption and forgiveness he received from it.
Sometimes if we forget what was nailed to the cross we lose the desire to serve Jesus more. Minimize the sacrifice......Minimize the service!! A good friend of mine, Michael O'brien wrote a song years ago that speaks to this very blog and I will share the chorus below.
So, if ever I forget The one who nailed my shame to a tree Who took my place when no one else believed You were there for me If ever I forget The one who gave this heart a second chance The one who holds my future in His hands Where will I be if ever I forget.
So we must never forget what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross and keep it a present reality that spurs on our life of service to Him. Paul took four missionary journeys which amassed over 10,000 miles proclaiming that very present truth and it kept him going to his death.
The Pilgrimage continues......
David Warren
Comentários