In the gold rush days, it wasn’t uncommon to see men carrying large stakes through town. Everyone knew the signs of a someone staking their claim. Their names would be imprinted in black, and they would hurry off with their long stakes and big smiles. They felt rich! They had left land, houses, families, even their own interests, to follow the “Gold Rush.” Some found their hidden treasure, others died trying.
Jesus said, “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He comes back in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” – (Mark 8:34-38).
Picking up our cross to follow Jesus doesn’t mean walking out our front door each morning glum, heavy, and waiting to die. It means we have found “Treasure in the field” in Christ and have left all to follow Him. It means being unashamed to show the world that we have “Staked our Claim” in Jesus. He has offered us forgiveness and eternal life – I’m in! He has resurrection power toward me that all the evil forces of earth can’t overcome – I’m in! He says victory over this world is certain in Him – I’m in! He says suffering for Righteousness’ sake ends in eternal glory – I’m in! We can’t lose in Jesus, and He’s not a “maybe” like the gold rush.
The Cross which the Romans intended to be the symbol of the greatest suffering, the greatest shame, and the greatest contempt, stands transformed into the symbol of the Greatest Victory because of Jesus. Carry it worthily – with joy.
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