“Unto you who believe He is precious: but to those who are disobedient, the Stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the Head of the corner, and a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those who stumble at the Word, being disobedient…” – 1 Peter 2:6,7
The Federal Government of Canada has just removed the symbols of the Cross from our national Coat of Arms and replaced it with a snowflake and maple leaves. It is their continued attempt to erase our Christian heritage and remove the offence of the Cross.
There are two reasons people stumble over Jesus and are offended by the Cross. The first is love of sin. The Cross condemns sin and announces “the wages of sin is death.” Those who plug their ears regarding sin, also plug their ears to the love of God. For the same verse that says, “The wages of sin is death,” finishes with, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The second reason is love of self. Others are offended by the Cross because they can’t add to it. The Cross slays self-righteousness. No one can save themselves and barge their own way into Heaven, nor can anyone add one drop of “good works” to the gift of Christ’s blood. The truth of our human condition is universal… “They are ALL gone out of the way, they are TOGETHER become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, no, NOT ONE.” – (Romans 3:12).
Jesus is the only Cure for humanity’s desperate need of righteousness… “By the righteousness of One (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon ALL mankind to justification of life” (Romans 5:18). Then, the moment we repent, through prayer, and receive Christ as Savior, something marvelous happens… we glory in the Cross. We see it as the power of God, the love of God, the grace of God, and its multi-faceted wonders only grow.
Our wicked rulers will never erase the Cross. It stands in the middle of human history as an eternal Marker of the love of God, offering pardon to sinners before the reign of Christ. One day their knees will bow, and their mouths will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. And guess what the universal banner will be?
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