The Cross Has Power

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

I Corinthians 1:17

 

Power is always for a purpose.

Like most guys, I love power tools. As a helicopter pilot, I loved the sound of twin T700 GE jet engines spooling up on an APACHE. Pure turbine power. I love watching videos of big storms, tsunamis and powerful winds. Power fascinates me.

I especially love the power of our God. There is a power in our faith that is beyond any other power ever created. It is the power to change people. It is the power to take sinners and turn them into saints.

It is the power to take broken people and make them whole. It is the power to take fear-filled haters and turn them into confident lovers. God’s power is amazing.

Paul understood this power personally. He never forgot he had hurt and abused the people of God. His heart was heavy when he remembered he had persecuted God’s church. He was a hopeless Pharisee whom God transformed into a sweet and tender man forgiven full of grace and hope. This, my friends, is the power of the Cross.

When sin has broken you to your core and your boat seems like it’s about to go under, take one look at the Cross of Jesus. As you gaze at the cross, God says, “I paid it all here.” When you surrender again at the foot of the cross, new life comes from heaven.

All the guilt, all the shame, all the weight of your sin is left at the cross. You get up from the cross a changed person. Your heart is lighter. You step is quicker. Hope returns to your heart. Glory to God. The cross has overcome sin once again.

We live in a sin-sick world. Our city celebrates it’s deviance and mocks holiness. As dark as the world seems, there is still great hope. As damaging as sin can be, there is still hope. As hopeless as we feel sometimes, there is still hope.

Our hope is in the cross because the cross is where sin loses its grip on us. Love is perfectly displayed on that cruel instrument. God’s wrath for sin landed upon His only Son, the perfect spotless Lamb of God. The story never grows old. The power never stops flowing. Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord at that cross finds new life, new strength, a clean heart and eternal fellowship with the Father.

Let’s not rush through this season of Christ’s passion. Take a few minutes to read through the accounts in the gospels of all Jesus endured for our freedom. Read the accounts to your children. It will kindle fresh in you, a gratitude and joy for Your Savior.

He was crucified. He died. He paid the price for sin. It is finished. The Lamb of God has taken away the Sin of the world. Blessed be the Name of Jesus!