Part XII - When I took another look at the cross

"God is not mad at you! He isn't counting your sins and holding them against you. He wants, so much, to have a personal relationship with you that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to shed His blood, die on the cross, and then be raised from the dead. He did all that so that you can be set free from the bondage of sin and the fear of death, and enter into eternal life."  -  Dr. Larry Hutton 

Abstract picture of 9/11 memorial July 3, 2017
Canon Rebel T6  /  ISO 100   ƒ/8   1/160   50 mm

Do you recall that moment when you have felt the most pain? The most sorrow? The most shame? Do you remember that moment of loneliness when you felt like your heart was literally being ripped off your chest?  Perhaps you don't have to think back too far… maybe after reading the first few words in this blog you started sobbing and clenching your first on your chest because the pain is just unbearable.

It is in the midst of this pain that I want you to fix your eyes at the cross and see that Jesus Christ our savior bore all this pain you are feeling or have felt in that same moment when he was being crucified… That pain you see in his eyes, those tears, that feeling of anxiety and abandonment is not His… that is YOUR pain.  You were in his mind and in his heart in that exact moment, and he felt YOUR anguish and sorrow.  He understands every tear you have shed and though you thought you were alone and no one understood you; our beautiful savior, our creator who brought life into you… He has been there first hand all along.

See, I would always hear people tell me that at the moment of my suffering I needed to visualize him there for me; in the midst of my wrongdoing or my pain.  I could not understand how he was there when I never felt him or better yet when I rejected Him; but the day I finally understood and made personal His death at the cross, my life completely changed. IT WAS ALL FOR ME, for the pain, the shame, the sorrow, and whatever else; all so that I did not have to carry it on me; all so that I could call such a far-distant God my Father.

It was done! He took care of it… and yet when I thought that no one understood me, when the pain was too much to make sense of it and to try to explain; even when I never wanted to talk to Him about it… there was no need… He knew from the beginning, even from some thousand years ago, and this is the same reason I have never been alone through it all.

It is this same beautiful revelation of seeing him carry the weight of my sorrow and my pain, the reason why I am free today! I do not need to live in the past anymore… there is no cross for me to carry, he carried it a long time ago! My pain, my wrongdoings, they ALL have been dealt with by my beautiful savior, even before I was ever aware of them.

He did all of it FOR YOU too. Recognizing and accepting the power of the cross will never leave you empty. Acknowledging trust in Him, will transform your life from the inside out. You will experience unimaginable peace, love, and joy. Today, I invite you to see Him at the cross and to KNOW that this was for YOU. I invite you to accept this truth, and to invite Jesus into your heart. All it takes is a simple and honest spoken confession; focus your mind in Christ at this moment and repeat these words:

"Dear God, I want to be a part of your family. You said in Your Word that if I acknowledge that You raised Jesus from the dead, and that I accept Him as my Lord and Savior, I would be saved. So God, I now say that I believe You raised Jesus from the dead and that He is alive and well. I accept Him now as my personal Lord and Savior. I accept my salvation from sin right now. I am now saved. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Savior. Thank you, Father God, for forgiving me, saving me, and giving me eternal life with You. Amen!"