There Are No Cheap Crosses

One of the most memorable experiences in my early life was the opportunity to travel to Old Mexico as part of a Missions Survey Class, under the leadership and tutelage of a great man of God and teacher, Dr. Paul Goodwin. Among those things that made a indelible impression was the stark contrast of the poverty of the people of that overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country, and the extreme opulence of the established church. Great ornate cathedrals, richly bedecked and bejewelled with gold and silver and precious stones, graced even the poorest and humblest of villages. Further travels and the accounts of other travellers have confirmed that this is not an unusual phenomenon in such countries.

Set in the midst of all this pretentious opulence, was a plethora of crosses. They seemed to stare at you from shops, steeples, street corners and to be strung around the neck or wrist of every person you met. Crosses constructed of wood, plastic, metal or jewels were to be encountered among the most unlikely items in markets, street stalls and souvenir shops. If such is a measure of Christianity, one would be compelled to say missionaries were wasting their time there. But obviously such was, and is not, the case.

But when you really think about it, such misleading representations of true Christianity can be seen in some strange places and worn by equally unlikely people in our country today. Have you ever thought that some people who like to wear such crosses seem to personify everything else except real Christian committal? Notice if you will, the number of drug promoting rock stars, promiscuous Hollywood personalities, alcohol consuming sports heroes and pretentious politicians, who seem to have an curious affinity for such sad secular symbolism.

But what about crosses? Are we who know the Christ of the Cross supposed to wear them or bear them? Jesus commanded His followers to, "Take up the cross and follow me." And how many of us who profess to possess His salvation really do this? Perhaps we could consider what someone once had to say about the matter, "Have you seen the advertisement in a Christian Bookstore, 'Special, Crosses, Fifty Percent Off'? Too often we Christians shop for a discounted cross rather than take up His cross of self-denial. Some want a vinyl-padded cross that's not too heavy. Others look for a small, flat cross which can be put out of sight when they wish to practice secret discipleship. Still others look for a jewelled cross which can make them part of the fashionable in-crowd. But the cross of authentic discipleship is a plain, rough wooden cross that takes a lot of effort to carry. The type on which our Saviour was crucified. And this is the cross of discipleship which we as His followers are called to carry. But one important difference is that Jesus Himself has promised to stand with us and help us bear the load. He who said, 'Take up your cross,' also declared, 'My yoke is easy, and my burden is light'."

God's Special Creation

The cuddly Koala Bear, which is not a bear at all, in spite of some superficial resemblances, is one of God's unique creatures.  It is a marsupial, as are the many different kinds of kangaroos. The fully grown Koala is about thirty inches long from nose to tail. It really has no tail. Instead it has a callused pad which enables it to sit, mainly sleep, in the fork of a tree for hours on end; evidently without too much discomfort.

The Koala is basically a nocturnal animal; usually sleeping until late afternoons. On occasion, on very rainy and dark days, we have seen a few Koalas high up in tall eucalyptus (gum) trees in the rain forest behind our home. At night we sometimes hear the peculiar bark or cry of the Koala in the same forest. It is said the aborigines rarely bothered the Koala because many believed it the reincarnation of lost children. Perhaps this is because when it is wounded or in pain its pitiful cries are almost childlike.

The aborigines named it "Koala," meaning "I don't drink." This is very appropriate since the Koala does not drink. It gets all the moisture and nutrition it needs from about a dozen of the five hundred known species of gum (eucalyptus) trees growing in Australia. Its survival depends upon an ample supply of these leaves. Its existence in zoos overseas depend upon these particular leaves as well. Vast quantities of these gum tips must be eaten in order to provide the water, carbohydrates, protein and fat necessary for its good health. God, in creating the Koala, also provided an appendix about six to eight feet in length to help deal with this unusual diet.

At birth, the Koala baby is about an inch long. It stays in the pouch until it is weaned at six months.. After weaning, it rides upon its mother's back or clings to her chest. At times, the mother can be seen protecting her little grey bundle with a motherly embrace; sometimes stroking and fondling it in an almost human like manner.

As one considers the greatness of our Great God, and the immensity of His universe and the vastness of His creation, one cannot help but think as well of the variety of His flora and fauna upon His green earth and how it is all inter-linked  and interdependent. The provision our Creator made for the growth, welfare and special dietary needs of the cuddly Koala bear speaks volumes about His concern for even the humblest of His creatures. But why should we be surprised? Did not our Saviour Himself say that the Father who feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies in the field cared for even the sparrow who falls to the earth? What wonder that this same Father has numbered the very hairs upon our head!

God Gave His Son

As we approach the Easter Season it is good to consider the eternal implications of the sacrifice our Saviour made when He died for our sins as well as the sacrifice the Father made as He turned His back upon His Son as the Son cried out,  "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me?...."

The following excerpt from my devotional book, "Gleaning Gospel, Gold" will perhaps give us just an inkling of the enormity of that eternal transaction of love:

"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 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 heart-rending crescendo. From high up he watched his only beloved son struggle and thrash frantically about and his heart sank with the sudden realisation 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 visualised his son suffering a slow and agonising 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. It’s my version of a story that goes so far back in my memory I am not sure I did not make it up to begin with. But one thing I do know. My Father did so much more for me and for all those who would trust in Him, as He heard from heaven the agonising cries and watched the cruel crushing of His only begotten Son in an agonising death on the cross of Calvary 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!"