Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Wednesday, May 20, 1998
For our ancestors have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight
of the LORD our God; they have forsaken him... Therefore the wrath of the LORD came upon
Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror. (2 Chronicles 29:6&8
NRSV)
The cross reminds us of the horror of sin. I use the word horror intentionally because there are
many people who have a great interest in horror movies and the violence that is contained in
them. Some of us think that horror is very funny.
The most violent event in human history took place on the cross. The worst horror scene ever
was the nailing of the son of God to an old rugged cross. In Genesis 3:5, we read of Adam's sin
and his desire to be like God. It was Adam's sin and it is our sin also. Our sins must be extremely
horrible for Christ to die for them.
If you take the word sin, the middle letter is I. If you take the word pride, which the early church
fathers listed as the worst of the seven deadly sins, you will once again notice that the middle
letter is I. Basically sin is the big I. According to the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-25, it is when I
begin to worship the creature rather than Creator that I got into trouble. It is when I want to
decide what is right or wrong, to forget God's law and will and replace it with my laws that I go
astray.
The Cross reminds us how much we have done to put Christ there. Were you there when they
crucified our Lord? Yes, we were there.
Prayer: Dear God, please remove the I in me, so that I may focus more and more on
living like your son. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA