The Cross

Work Do you remember getting a piece of work back from a teacher at school and it being covered in neat little red crosses. The cross on the piece of work told us that we had done something wrong - that we had made a mistake. The cross of the Lord Jesus tells us the same thing. It tells us that we have all made mistakes and that we are what the Bible calls sinners. The Bible says: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans chapter 3 verse 23.
The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross because of our sins. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" 1 Peter chapter 22 verse 4

When you see or hear an ambulance with lights flashing and siren blaring you know that it is on the way that to rescue someone, quite probably a matter of life and death. On the side of many ambulances you can see a red cross. This helps us recognise it as an ambulance. The Lord Jesus came from heaven to rescue us from sin and the judgement of sin by God and His cross shows us this. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 15.
He did this by dying on the cross for you. He was punished by God for our sin on the cross so that we might be free from sin and it's punishment. All you have to do is to repent and believe. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" Acts chapter 16 verse 31

It's always great to get a card through the post when it's your birthday, especially if it is one from someone we haven't heard from for ages. When you open it up and read who it came from you may see a row of x s at the bottom. The crosses on a birthday card are just there to tell you that someone loves you and has remembered you on your birthday. The cross of the Lord Jesus tells us that God loves each one of us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth upon him shall not perish but shall have evelasting life" John chapter 3 verse 16
God loves you so much that He sent His own precious and unique Son to die on a cross for you! What amazing love that is. "The LORD [said] "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 3

Treasure Map X marks the spot. In all the best pirate stories the cross on a treasure map is supposed to be where the treasure is to be found. The cross of the Lord Jesus tells us that we can have something that is much more valuable than treasure. It tells us that God gave up everything for you. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 1 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9.
The Lord Jesus gave up all of His riches to die in poverty on the cross, that we might become rich. Being saved is more precious than anything that money can buy. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew chapter 16 verse 26. Even if you could gain all the riches in the world, but still die in your sin, without Jesus Christ as Saviour, then you have lost everything.

Ballot Box If you have ever voted then you know that when you mark your ballot paper with a cross you are making a choice. You also have a choice to make today. Much more important than any election. The Bible tells us we have a choice whether we follow God and trust in His Son as Saviour, or whether we disobey Him and go our own way. It is described as two gates. A strait (narrow) gate that leads to eternal life and a broad gate that leads to destruction. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew chapter 7 verse 13 & 14.
Following our own way only leads to 'destruction', eternal separation from God because of our sin. Putting our trust in the Lord Jesus leads to eternal life. Which way will you choose? Where will you put your cross? In an election you can only vote on the day that is appointed. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2.

If we reject God's invitation today we may not get another chance.

God's Message for You