The cross on your wall...
Do you have a cross in your home?
We do. In fact, we have a few. In different colors,
sizes and textures! It forms a part of our home decor. It is a message to
visitors saying: “You are now entering a Christian home.”
The cross is the universal symbol for Christianity. We
all know that. But, what about you? The one with the cross on your living room
wall? The Christian? What do you see when you look at the cross?
We should see the final sacrifice for our sins by
Jesus on that cross. His divine love. The wounds that brought us healing and
salvation. The Almighty God who became flesh and bones.
And then, you should also see yourself on that cross.
Yes, I know! This is the part where some of you will
stop reading! Most Christians I know struggle with the idea of being crucified
with Christ. We read in Gal. 2:20 (NLT) “My old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly
body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
What exactly does this mean? We find the answer a
little further on in Galatians: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed
the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them
there.” (Gal. 5:24 NLT)
It simply means that the next time you look at the
cross you should see your old, selfish, greedy, ungrateful, worldly self there
and remember that you are not suppose to be selfish, greedy, ungrateful and
worldly anymore! Why? Because, the moment you were born again you were moved
from one kingdom to another. From under the authority of one ruler to Another. You
are now a citizen of God’s Kingdom under the rule of Jesus Christ. Every part
of your live should be under the guidance of His Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25).
As long as we are alive in this world there will be a constant
battle between our sinful nature and the desires of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:17).
That it is why we must make the effort to live righteously and fully committed
to God everyday.
A lot of Christians don’t like this part. They don’t
want to crucify the old self. Because living righteously means to make
sacrifices and to change your lifestyle. They want to keep a backdoor open. One
foot in the world. Some prefer to conform to “safe” worship that is acceptable
to the world. No gifts of the Spirit please! No supernatural healing, speaking
in tongues, prophecies or visions please! They constrict God to what they are
comfortable with and to what will fit their social image.
I genuinely feel sorry for these Christians. First of
all, because, many years ago, I was one of them and secondly, because thousands
of God’s children are missing out on the abundant Kingdom life promised by
Jesus (John 10:10, Mat 6:33). Simply because they are not willing to be
crucified with Christ.
So, the next time you look at that cross on your
living room wall, remember, you are a new person in Christ.
Then go and live that way.
God bless
Madeleine
😊
