Closer Than You Think

Spirituality Column #126
April 7, 2009
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper
Current in Westfield (IN) newspaper

Closer Than You Think
By Bob Walters

I beg to differ with anyone who thinks the Wondrous Cross of Christ sits on a hill far away.

The Cross is situated right here, right now, in the center of our beating hearts.

That’s a good thing, and a miserable thing.

It’s miserable because up there on the Cross – scourged, bleeding and gasping for breath – is the totality of our human wrath and the ugliness of our sins. It’s the most disturbing picture imaginable of what our sin and unfaithfulness would look like to God, if in fact He were able to look upon them.

Jesus – God become flesh (John 1:14) – could see sin and came among us to provide a resolution for the biggest catastrophe to befall humanity. Some think that catastrophe is sin, but the biggest catastrophe is death; it forever separates us from God.

No way do I believe that the horror of the Cross is a picture of God’s wrath; it is a picture both of our sin – man scourged Jesus – and what God is willing to endure to cure death. Not just that one time on a Cross on a distant patch of dirt, but every moment of every day for all eternity for every person who turns in faith to Jesus Christ.

The goodness of keeping the Cross always in our hearts is that it shows us the pure, unconditional, eternal love of God.

Is Jesus being punished for our sins? No, there is nothing in the Bible to suggest punishment. Besides, who can punish God? Jesus is defeating death, removing our sins, establishing a new covenant between man and God, birthing a new creation, and – with his resurrection – fulfilling the promise of eternal life for all who believe.

Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Old Testament lambs didn’t do that; Christ is a new kind of Lamb.

We still sin. I’m a sinner. News flash: we’re all sinners. Sin’s the biggest problem we have in this life, and its ugliness is right up there on the Cross.

But with faith in Christ death is defeated, our hearts are changed, sin’s grip on this life is lessened … and with faith in Christ, eternity comes without sin.

That’s why we should hold that old rugged Cross close every second. It’s a lousy picture of ourselves, but proof God loves us anyway.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) archives these weekly columns at www.believerbob.blogspot.com.