I have a friend who recently encouraged me to think about the cross whenever I get feelings of anxiety, depression, despair, or sadness. This friend has been to seminary and knows that I have an interest in theology, so he's not just giving me a religious platitude, but something much more. I can easily get my eyes off of what God has done, is doing, and will do in my life and focus in a very narrow way on a particular situation that is not going the way I expect. Or, on other occasions, that I condemn myself for "not living up to my potential."
We have talked before and we have discussed many important, precious truths - but there is something much deeper going on in me. I remember another friend who said that "simplicity on this side of complexity is not worth very much, but simplicity on the other side of complexity is worth anything to get to it." I think this is one of those truths. It wouldn't have helped much to say this to me before - it would have come across as simplistic and of less value. But as I have pursued the answers to my questions and generated more questions, this truth became more precious.
The Cross is God's statement that he loves me. For the pure and holy God, creator of the universe, to do anything with me other than blast me with his holy, just, and deserved wrath is an act of mercy and grace that is incalculable. But for Him to send His Son to live a perfect life and die in my place so that I may be part of His family and live forever in his presence - well, that's beyond words ... But I am so blind and self-absorbed that I do not see this Great Event as God's loudest statement that he loves me and that He will do whatever it takes to have a relationship with me! God must break into my blindness as he did with those who came to Him, he must overcome my self-centeredness with His love - there is no other hope for me. And yet, he does!
The Cross is what makes all other suffering worth it to get to the One who loves me. The Cross is my only hope for forgiveness and relationship. The Cross is my only hope for change.
The Cross is also the loudest statement to me that I must give up demanding my rights, give up the "right" to be treated fairly, and not just expect mistreatment and misunderstanding, but embrace it. Not "must" because if I don't I'll be kicked out of the family, but "must" because I am compelled by love because of love.
If Jesus allowed himself to be nailed on the cross for me, to be spit at, scorned, mocked, beaten, bruised, rejected by both man and His Father. If He who died for us will not withhold any good thing but give us all heavenly blessings, I must die to myself. My pride, my strength, my "wisdom," my self-sufficiency.
How do you possibly respond to God's loudest statement of love, but to fall on our face in worship, love Him with all our heart, and get up and go as he bids - knowing that your place in His family is secured for all eternity? Just how does one respond to this?
The beauty is you can't, and to try to pay him back tarnishes the gift. All we can do is praise and follow ...
No comments:
Post a Comment