The Power of the Cross

A few weeks ago, I was sending a YouTube video of the song, “The Power of the Cross” to some prospective choir members in our church, in hopes that they would join us on Easter morning in singing this amazing song.

A similar group sang this for an Easter service at our church out in Earlham 10 years ago.  And because we all loved it so much, it became a favorite of the congregation and we added it to our repertoire.  We even did the full-blown choir version!  So, I’m extremely familiar with this song as I’ve sung and/or played it dozens of times.

So, I was completely caught off guard when, while I was half-viewing the YouTube before sending it, I just broke down into tears as I was moved by the words of the verse I was hearing.  But do you think I can remember WHICH verse it was now?  Of course not… I reread them all just now and decided that any one of them could create the same reaction because they are all extremely powerful – and TRUE!

The thought that slammed into my mind and caused the flood of tears was this:  Jesus went through the agony of the cross, both physically and spiritually (in that He experienced separation from His heavenly Father), SO THAT I would have the joy of seeing my husband again one day.  It makes me cry again even now.

And while that is an incredible promise and what I often cling to during this time of grieving, it really is NOT what we can best celebrate in heaven.  Yes, it’s a huge comfort to think about seeing our loved ones again, because, let’s face it, what or who could be more tangible to us than the people we have loved the most and lost?  And let’s not forget the biblical promise of no more tears and no more sorrow and no more pain.  Boy, do I long for THAT!

But if you’re a believer, our greatest joy lies in the indisputable fact that our Savior, Jesus Christ, the same One who went to the cross on our behalf, is reigning triumphantly in heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father and WE can now be in His presence FOREVER!  There can be no greater joy than to spend eternity in Paradise with the One who sacrificed it all for us.  And the icing on that heavenly cake?  We also reunite with our believing loved ones – and no more sorrow, pain or tears..or SIN!

Although this song focuses on Christ’s death on the cross, the greatest news in the history of the world is that He rose again!  No other world religion has a leader who died and came back to life ON OUR BEHALF!  It’s an amazing truth of the Gospel and one that I hope and pray you will be able to embrace this Easter weekend.

Christ didn’t stay on the cross, but the penalty for our sins did if we acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior of our lives.  If we don’t, then there is no power in that cross for us. Our part in this salvation story is to recognize that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23  And then what?  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

There you have it.  Direct from the mouth of God!  Don’t put off this decision if you haven’t made it yet.  None of us knows if we will see tomorrow.  But we can face it with hope, as Dale did, if we’ve claimed Christ’s sacrifice as our own.

I’m including a link to the song below and I hope you’ll take the extra few minutes to listen through it and let the truth of the words sink deep into your heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPFv-ywTY-c

Have a blessed Easter because CHRIST IS RISEN!