FROM THE PULPIT: LIFT HIGH THE CROSS, THE LOVE OF CHRIST PROCLAIM

This weekend we and our fellow Americans celebrated the birth of our nation by rallying around Old Glory, hosting BBQs and picnics and viewing fireworks displays. As we celebrated we were no doubt reminded of the sacrifice and the lives it took to establish liberty and to maintain it in this nation of ours.

As we Christians celebrated how richly the Lord has blessed us and this nation emotions were no doubt mixed for we also mourned how far our nation has turned its collective heart from the Lord and has gone its own way. The events of the past years have only served to punctuate our nation's apostasy as we witnessed children shooting children and adults, the sin of homosexuality becoming more accepted and abortion supported and defended as a "right."

Without doubt, the wickedness and sin of men should cause us to mourn and to despair, as well as to lead us to confess our own sins and shortcomings before the Lord. With all this sin about and the nation on the fast track to destruction, the Christian's concern becomes: can our nation's backsliding be halted? If so, how? By legislating morality? By creating a "Christian government?"

While some morality legislation is already on the books and serves to curb great outbursts of violence by the whole of society, the creation of new laws will not, in the end, bring about the desired transformation and change Christians pray for and want to see in this nation.

Only when repentance for the remission of sins is preached in Christ's name will men mourn their sin and be turned from their evil ways.

Only when we lift high the cross and proclaim the love of Christ will the hearts of men be changed and transformed. Then, and only then, will this nation be turned from her apostacy and serve the living God with renewed spirits and minds.

To see real and lasting change, the Christian must lift high the cross and speak to others about the love of Christ Jesus "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross."

Speak to others about the one and only Savior of the world. Tell them about His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood and the lying down of His life for the life of mankind. Speak of how Christ in His own body was reconciling the world to Himself, paying the penalty of its guilt, suffering its judgment, and dying its death, so that they may have real liberty, real life, real happiness. Let your co-worker, your neighbor, your fellow shopper, let everyone know of Jesus whose Gospel, whose cross, is "the power of God unto salvation." Let them know it was for them He sacrificed and gave His life on the cross.

It is key, of course, that every believer do this in his or her life. Just a cursory reading of the New Testament Scriptures reveals our early Christian brothers and sisters did this and the Lord blessed the sharing of His Word. The remarkable changes that took place in the lives of those first converts are also promised for the lives of those converted and believing today. But it can only occur through the preaching of the cross of Christ.

Therefore, fellow Christians, as you would rally around Old Glory and wave her proudly, recalling the sacrifices and lives given, rally around the cross and lift it high that others may be drawn to Jesus. Lift high the cross so that men. Lift high the cross and the love of Christ proclaim that all our country, person by person, may know and believe in His name. Only then will men desire to please the Lord. Only then will men seek to do what is right. Only then will men strive to bear witness to His saving name. For only the Cross of Christ has this power.