I Have Come by the Way of the Cross

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;" - Romans 3:23-24

"Have you ever thought about what a Christian is? Christians are people who have shuddered at the awfulness of their sin. They have seen sin for what it is: willful rebellion against the rulership of God in their lives. And in turning from their sin, they have embraced God’s only means of dealing with sin: Jesus." Kay Arthur 

The quote by Kay Arthur written above personally expresses what being a Christian really means to me. I have believed the words of Jesus found in John 3:16. I am an imperfect person who saw my sin and gave my heart in surrender to Someone greater than myself. By faith, I take God at His Word and lean upon the many promises found therein. John 10:28 gives me the security that I will always belong to Jesus as He says the following: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

Nothing this world has to offer is as important to me as that of being a Christian. Everything else is futile. Eventually all will rust, decay, and fade away. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the King of Israel at the pinnacle of his power and wealth, asked God for great wisdom.  God granted Solomon this wisdom.  Solomon tested each arena of human endeavor and pleasure, and with deliberate, sobering clarity he concludes that all is ultimately futile.  Solomon's findings read as follows: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

God's love is continually reaching down to each of us.  What a difference He has made in countless people whose lives have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus. Today, do you accept that love and call yourself a Christian?  Although not perfect, are you someone who continually seeks to do God's will and follow after His heart, not your own?  Do you trust Him to direct your life?  My prayer is that you do.  Jesus Christ is the hope for all mankind.  Only He can provide lasting peace which results from the promise that we belong to Him.  The song below entitled, "I Have Come by the Way of the Cross" by TaRanda Greene reminds us that there is nothing we have done to deserve God's only Son.  What a wonderful assurance we have of eternal life if only we go by the way of the Cross.

Prayer:  Dear Father, thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world.  For those who hear these thoughts over and over and feel as though they are listening to a broken record, please change their hearts.  Help each person reading this blog article to see, to finally see, that life is futile unless they believe in Your promises.  Thank You for peace that passes all understanding.  This is Your gift to each Christian.  Help us to always remember the way we have come and not allow ourselves to be distracted or discouraged by the things of the world.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.