Renungan Harian - House Of Peace

A century ago crosses dotted the landscape across America. Today many churches do not display the cross on their buildings and city governments have tried to ban the cross on public property. Our founding fathers would be chagrined to see this happen. It’s the cross that made the difference between victory or defeat, hope or hopelessness, eternal life or perdition. History is divided by B. C. and A. D. There are those who want to do away with that significance but it is the cross that made the difference.

The gospel is the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Paul declared, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Recently a missionary was asked by a young man what the difference is between the Red Cross and the Christian cross. Likewise, many throughout the world and in America are ignorant of the power of the cross.

In almost four decades of ministry I’ve stood in many cemeteries throughout America. This Memorial Day I’ll once again remember those who have died to preserve our freedom and walk by the graves of many of our loved ones. When I think of the thousands who have died, there is only one assurance of hope – The cross made the difference for multitudes.

On the cross the perfect man, the Son of God, gave himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. Peter wrote, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (I Peter 2:24 NRSV). An early church father, Ambrose, wrote, “O the divine mystery of the cross! Weakness hangs on it, power is freed by it, evil is nailed to it, and triumphal trophies are raised towards it.”

Some today say that the cross is not necessary. They are dead wrong – the cross made the difference. The Word of God tells us, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22 NKJV). D. L. Moody, a great preacher of over a century ago, said, “You must be saved by God’s plan. It was love that prompted God to send His Son to save us and shed His blood. That was the plan. And without the blood what hope have you? There is not a sin from your childhood – from your cradle – up ‘til now that can be forgiven, unless by the blood. Let’s take God at His Word . . . Without the blood no remission whatsoever . . . That’s what Christ died for. If a man makes light of that blood what hope has he? How are you going to get into the kingdom of God? You cannot join in the song of the saints if you don’t go into heaven that way . . . You must accept the plan of redemption and come through it.”

Recently Dottie Rambo, one of the greatest and most prolific gospel song writers of all time, went home to her eternal reward. What was the theme of more than 2,500 of her songs? Jesus and His cross was her glory. In her song “I Will Glory in the Cross” she wrote, “I boast not of works nor tell of good deeds. For naught have I done to merit His grace. All glory and praise shall rest upon Him, so willing to die in my place. I will glory in the cross, in the cross. Lest suffering all be in vain. I will weep no more for the cross that He bore. I will glory in the cross.”

This Memorial Day, no matter what you may be facing, remember – the cross made the difference. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
by: Cliff Sanders