The Cross: What It Isn't, What It Is
The Pima Indians of Mexico love the cross. They use it for everything. In their houses, they hang a cross of leaves to keep sickness away. In their cornfields, they form a cross from two axes to "cut the clouds" and drive the hail away. On nearby hills, they mount metal crosses to scare the devil away. And before a Pima gets buried, they set the coffin in front of a white cross to chase his sin away.
The Pima love the cross, but they still get sick. The hail still falls. They still have accidents. Satan still rules among them. And their sin still chases them into the grave.
The Pima count heavily on the cross, but their crosses aren't helping them.
The cross in our culture
The cross also studs our American and Canadian graveyards, fights Hollywood vampires, decorates our Bibles, identifies big churches and hangs around our necks. Abundant as the symbol is in our culture, what real difference do all these crosses make? Are they any different from the crosses of the Pima? Can you count on them to really help you?
Sorry, but no.
The true Cross
What about Christ's Cross? Does it have any power to help you? First, think about your sin. All those bold-faced lies. Those lustful looks. Those hateful words. Those embarrassing thoughts. Those stupid actions. All that stinking, putrefying, hell-deserving garbage that has filled your life.
It can all be cleansed by the great power of Christ's Cross.
How?
Remember: The Cross was the instrument of Christ's death. He didn't drown. He didn't die of old age. Beaten, nailed, speared, Jesus splattered the ground with His blood, hanging on the Cross.
Christ's Cross points you to Christ's blood. And like the Cross, Christ's physical blood is gone. You can't see it; you can't touch it. We're talking spiritually here, biblically. And biblically speaking, "The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
That's good news. That's something you can count on.
But the power of the Cross doesn't end there. That's only half the message. There's bigger news coming.
The power to kill you
The Cross may have cleansed your last bold-faced lie, but what about the one you feel forced to tell now? The blood may wipe out the guilt of your last lustful look, but how about the next miniskirt that comes your way?
Beware: A powerful force inside keeps pushing you into sin again and again and again. You got it from Adam. It's called a sin nature.
But the Cross has the power to solve that problem, too.
Pay close attention: Christ wasn't the only one to die on His Cross. You died with him. Your stinking, decaying sinful self the Adam within that drives you to sin died on the Cross, too. You're dead. Your Adam is a corpse. Remember now, we're talking biblically and spiritually here.
Paul put it this way: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
Get practical
To apply that power, first, you need cleansing. To get it, count on Christ's Cross. "Jesus, cleanse me with Your blood. Save me. I'm Yours." It's as simple as that.
Second, considering your sinful habits, your ugly Adam, you need killing in a major way. The answer is the same.
Count on Christ's Cross.
It cleansed you. It killed you.
The next time you're tempted to lie, remind yourself: "Jesus lives in me, and He tells the truth." The next time a miniskirt crosses your path, think: "I'm a corpse. The only thing alive in me is Jesus, and He doesn't stare lustfully at miniskirts." Every moment you acknowledge your death on the Cross, you don't have to sin.
Paul understood Christ's Cross best. He said it this way: "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:8, 11).
The True Cross is the Cross of Jesus. That's something you can count on.
Background Information
Questions and Answers
Stories
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Related Topics
Transitions: Changing Jobs, Moving
Relationships: Communication Gaps
Parenting Teens: Communication Problems
