In a world where supposed truth is here one day and gone the next, I believe it is important to hitch my wagon to the eternal truth and power of God. The pivotal act of that truth is the death of Jesus on a sinner's cross. My cross. The world's version of the truth is more fleeting than a one-touchdown lead in an NFL game. In other words, don't hitch the wagon of your life to this fleeting perception of truth and strength because it will fail every time. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul writes 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. If you think the secular world has compromised the truth of the cross, then you are right. If you think the church of today has lessened its identity with that cross, you could be right.
How do we right the ship? All those of us who have been "saved" must lift up the cross as our hope and salvation, and make it known, as our only hope and salvation. End of story. The message of the cross is so much more than a story. It is our life, for those who have been born-again hold to it and realize the true power to live our lives from it. If you want to get a group born again group of believers talking, then bring up the cross and the Holy Spirit will take it from there! The last part of the above verse says it well and here is how it hits us but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The power of God.
What kind of power is Paul talking about? The power to continue to preach the message of Christ in the face of great opposition. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul writes 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Some would probably say "Paul is sure bragging here", but I believe Paul is giving testimony to the life-giving power of the cross. You can easily tell the society we live in. A narcissistic world will look at an example of God using a man like Paul and say he is bragging. But not me! I gain encouragement from knowing that a man who definitely took up his cross and followed Jesus lived in the power of the Cross. Remember, Paul wasn't at the cross when Jesus was crucified, but the power of the cross became the power for him to live his life for Christ and thus throw aside all of his religious training to do one thing. Lift up the Cross!
The power of the cross and its message is still current and real whether we think it is or not. You can rely on the message of the cross and know that this great truth is still current and real. So what should we do? Tell everyone about it and the Holy Spirit will convict and draw the lost to know more and some will choose Jesus. Why? Because what the Bible says is living and true, and CURRENT.
Here is how Paul explained the above scripture telling his trials in 2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. How do you boast about your weaknesses? You tell the testimony of what God does and those who are willing can see that only God could do those things and keep His servant Paul moving forward to complete the mission God put him on.
Get on the journey and follow the calling of God in your life and see what God will do to use the message of the cross in your life. This message is real and current and defies any attempt to kill it by other superficial trends. We need this message more today and God has given this message to all who are born-again. If that's you. Time to get the Word out! The cross is real!!
The Pilgrimage Continues.
David Warren
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