The Cross Of Christ

On the south coast of China, high on a hill that overlooks the harbor of Macao, the Portuguese settlers of that colony erected a massive cathedral. But one of the powerful typhoons that regularly wreck havoc with the works of mans hands, virtually destroyed this impressive edifice. For many years the building lay in ruins. Only the front wall stubbornly remained. As the years passed, high atop that jutting wall a large bronze cross pierced the sky, as if defying the elements.

Sir John Bowring, a onetime governor of Hong Kong, was a gifted naturalist, statesman, political economist and linguist who could speak and write in thirteen different languages and dialects. One day, while looking over this area, he spotted this cross standing high above the ruins of the wall, like a lonely sentinel, with its silhouette thrusting high into the sky. The sight so moved him that he penned the powerful words of the beautiful grand old hymn:

“In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o’er the wrecks of time, All the light of sacred story, Gathers ’round its head sublime. When the woes of life o’er-take me, Hopes deceive, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo! it glows with peace and joy. When the sun of bliss is beaming, Light and love upon my way, From the cross the radiance streaming, Adds more lustre to the day. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the cross are sanctified, Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide.”

The thought and truth of this old hymn is just as apt today. For thrusting out of the midst of the turmoil and violence of today’s suffering world, stands the Cross of Christ. There is no greater symbol. It symbolizes His ultimate triumph. The triumph of love over hate. The victory of forgiveness over judgment. The triumph of hope over despair and life over death! But more than anything else, it stands for the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all our sins. All around the world Christians gather in awe and reverence to consider the real meaning of the of their Savior upon that Cross and the eternal significance of the blood He shed there. Choirs and congregations lift their voices in many different languages and dialects and sing,

“When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.”

The Love Of A Father

“As the early morning sun peeped over the hill, silhouetting the drawbridge spanning the river in the valley below, a father and his young son made their way down the hillside. For months he had promised the lad he would take him to work with him one day.

As he watched the young boy scampering up and down with his little lunch box in hand, he could sense his overwhelming excitement. A smile played across his face as he thought of the planned highlight of their day; a picnic lunch on the river bank. Perhaps he could set a line and, if they were lucky, they might catch a good fish. The little fellow could proudly show his Mom as he gave her a glowing report of their day together.

His was no ordinary job. He operated a railroad drawbridge. He had the grave responsibility of raising and lowering the bridge on exact schedule; allowing the rail and river traffic to pass safely to and fro. His task allowed little or no margin of error.

He soon settled into his daily routine, glancing occasionally at his young son happily exploring the wonders of nature along the bank of the river below. It was nearly time for their lunch and the bridge had just been raised to allow a barge tow to pass up river. As he prepared to push the levers that would lower it again in time to allow a special express holiday train to pass over safely, he heard his son’s first terrified cry.

Glancing down quickly, his heart skipped a beat and it seemed his legs turned to jelly. “Oh no,” he thought. “I told him to stay away from there!” The little lad’s leg was caught in a large cluster of levers and gears in the midst of the moving machinery that raised and lowered the bridge. The cries of his son for help rose to a heartrending crescendo. From high up he watched his only beloved son struggle and thrash frantically about and his heart sank with the sudden realization that his little boy could not free himself.

What could he do now? No time to signal the train. No time to rush down and try to free his son. He must lower the bridge now or the train with its hundreds of passengers would plunge headlong into the cold river depths below. There could be no survivors. But if he hit the lever his son would be cruelly crushed. In a flash of precognition he visualized his son suffering a slow and agonizing death, all the time crying out for his help.

With a convulsive sob and a great cry of terrible agony, he leapt back to the control board and his hand fell heavily upon the lever. The train rushed safely across the bridge. As the holiday train sped on its merry way, the partying passengers never knew the agony of a father who sacrificed his only son that they might live!”

Did the above incident really occur? I don’t know. But one thing I do know. My Father did so much more for me and for all those who would trust in Him. He heard the agonizing cries and watched the cruel crushing of His only begotten Son in an awful death on the cross of Calvary.

Did not the prophet Isaiah say, “He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:11) Did not our Saviour cry out from the cross, “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” Why would a loving Father do this? That I might be free from sin’s eternal condemnation and be freely given the gift of everlasting life in Him. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!

(The above is from an illustration I saw many years ago.  I have rewritten it in my own words.)  - Pastor John White

Precious Promises

When we are discouraged or face unexpected adversities it is good to pause and think of the greatness and goodness our God has shown in His promises to His people in His book.. He has not promised to supply all our wants, but all our needs. We sometimes get the two concepts confused. Parents normally know what is best for their children and are able to discriminate between those things they desperately want and the things that the really need. They are aware that some wanted things will be hurtful rather than helpful. Our heavenly Father is much more able to make such judgments.

Someone else has said, " Burdens, too, can often be stepping stones to higher ground." A biologist tells how he watched an ant carrying a piece of straw which seemed a big burden for it. The ant came to a crack in the earth which was too wide to cross. It stopped for a time as though pondering the situation, then it put the straw across the crack and walked over upon it and then grasped the straw and went upon its way!  What a lesson for us! A burden can become a bridge for spiritual progress if we endeavour by God's help to live the overcoming life!

Yes, our God has given us so many great and precious promises and shown us that He is faithful and His promises never fail. "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant." (1 Kings 4:56b) Perhaps of all His promises, those that speak of brighter days and a heavenly future are the most thrilling to the soul of those who are going through tough times. He tells us that all things do work together for the ultimate good of those who love Him. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Many may be the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of them all. He may pass through the waters and rivers of trials and tribulations, but no matter how swift and terrible the flood, he will not be overwhelmed. He may walk through the fire of trouble and testing, but he will not be touched or singed by the flame. He may suffer the pain and constant irritation of a thorn in his flesh, but God's grace will be sufficient in every situation; even the valley and shadow of death.

Perhaps the most precious promises of all relate to our ultimate deliverance not only from the penalty and power of sin, but from its very presence as well. There will come a day when we will enter that city whose builder and maker is God. We will go to that dwelling place for a prepared people. Then He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes and there will be no more crying, sorrow, pain or death. His ultimate precious promise of His eternal presence with His people will have come to pass!