Far above rubies – 27 June 2021, Anno Domini

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HO can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  (Proverbs 31:10) 

           

 

Proverbs 31:10-31 is most noted for its description of a virtuous woman as wife and mother of her children. The Word of God is very discreet in its choice of descriptive nouns, and this passage is no exception. God did not choose pearls, diamonds, or any other gemstone to describe the virtuous woman – He chose the ruby, but why? Rubies have had a mysterious appeal to mankind from our primitive beginning. The value of the modern ruby is based on clarity, cut, color, and size as measured by the gemologist. However, it is none of these that makes the ruby so attractive. True, the crimson color is perhaps one of the great appeals of the ruby; but there is another quality that exceeds even that appeal – the warm glow that emanates from deep in the heart of the ruby. The color and the fluorescent glow are created by trace amounts of chromium in the crystal structure of the stone.

 

            But, you may say, the multi-colored sparkle of a diamond is more radiantly beautiful than the ruby’s single blood-red glow. Fair enough! But from what source does the sparkle of the diamond come – from within, or without. The gleaming rays of the diamond do not originate in that stone. The hues of blues, yellows, greens, and white are generated by light entering the diamond from the OUTSIDE. These are refracted back to the observer. Moreover, the diamond is one of the hardest of stones and not a good description of the soft heart of the ideal mother or a wife. A diamond in the rough is not very beautiful and lacks the sparkle before being cut, but a ruby, even in soiled surroundings and poor form, still maintains its warm glow.

 

So how is the ruby like the virtuous woman? We would begin by pointing out that red is the color of love and sacrifice. The blood of our Lord from the cross is the best example of that extreme measure of love He had for us. Likewise, a loving mother will sacrifice her last drop of blood to save her child. The loving wife of a good man will sacrifice all for the benefit of her family. She labors endlessly in providing a warm and love-filled home to her husband and her little ones. She is never idle but constantly seeking out means of industry to improve her home and its comforts. She may even sacrifice her career ambitions so that her children will be nurtured in the love of God and the morality of His Word.

 

The greater value of a virtuous woman is not a beautiful outward countenance, but a deep and abiding inner strength that emanates from a loving and faithful heart. The remaining verses of Proverbs 31 describe those qualities in greater detail. The ruby is a rare gem, so is the virtuous woman a rare find for any young man. She is not found in the swamps or the desert sands of the world, but the granite stones of mountains and highland plateaus. The beauty of the ruby, like that of a virtuous woman, emanates from deep within its being. That inner beauty makes the outward appearance of the woman beautiful as well.

 

The ruby is not a gaudy stone like some cuts of diamonds. It is relatively small in size compared to the larger diamonds, yet it readily attracts the eye of the observer in ways a diamond cannot. A virtuous woman is not ostentatious in her manners, but mild and refined in both speech and etiquette, and she makes the very best use of the resources made available to her. She manages her household enviably.

 

In the Book of Job, God compares the ruby to wisdom as well. Of wisdom, Job says, “The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.”  (Job 28:17-18)

 

          Of course, wisdom is another salient characteristic of the virtuous woman for it points to the Creator God in all things. Fathers, sons, and daughters, please return that pure love of a virtuous woman in kind to her. Heed the counsel of the wise scribe of Proverbs: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”     (Proverbs 31:28)

You, Me and Barabbas – 26 June 2021, Anno Domini

 

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ND there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11   But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.  14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.  15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.      (Mark 15:7-15) 

 

            It is not likely that anyone reading this devotion has ever compared themselves to the murderous insurgent, Barabbas, but the comparison may be more valid than you could ever have imagined. Barabbas was a vile sinner and brutal criminal. Beyond doubt, he was on the shortlist for Hell. But we need not be smug about our own righteousness for we have none apart from the imputed righteousness made available to the believer in Christ. We are classed with Barabbas as sinners in the eyes of the Lord. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  (Romans 3:23)

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ died for both Barabbas and for us on the cross – He died a vicarious death on the cross in our stead and that of Barabbas.  The difference? If we have believed on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He died that we might have life eternal. In the case of Barabbas, He died that Barabbas might live a few more days or years. Of course, we do not know what turn the soul of Barabbas may have taken in the days following his pardon and release from the horrible death on the cross.

 

Let us cast our spiritual pride aside momentarily and place ourselves in the predicament of Barabbas. Barabbas deserved to be condemned to Hell. And so do you! As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.  (Romans 3:10) You have been imprisoned in the bondage of sin and condemned. The execution of the verdict will take place at the date determined by the magistrate. You consider the horror of dying in your sins and the horror of that which follows. But suddenly another emerges who has been found innocent of any sin or crime; yet, this One has been condemned for your own crimes and sins even though that same magistrate (Pontius Pilate) pronounced Jesus innocent of any guilt whatsoever.  He will pay that penalty for sin that belongs to you alone. The bars of death and Hell have been opened to set you free. 

 

How do you feel about that? How did Barabbas feel? We are not told if Barabbas responded to that solitary act of saving grace of which you and I have been the beneficiaries, but at least in a certain manner, they are similar. One thing we know for certain – Christ died in the place of Barabbas on the cross. That sacrifice would be very limited unless Barabbas believed Christ died in the redemption of his sins. On this point, the Bible is silent, so, we cannot know. But one thing we can know, Christ died to redeem those of faith from their sins in order that His elect might have eternal life with Him.

 

How do you feel about that supreme sacrifice of love that Christ made for you. We can be sure that Barabbas was overwhelmed at being released from a horrible death on the cross; but how do we feel about the price Christ paid for us that we may enjoy eternal bliss instead of an eternity in the darkness of a Hell far more enduring than the cross? It is my opinion that our joy at the prospect should be immeasurable.

 

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HEREFORE did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (Acts 2:26-28)

Night of Bad Decisions – 25 June 2021, Anno Domini

 

 

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ND it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.        (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

 

            One of the most oft-repeated events of the Old Testament is the story of David and Bathsheba. It is the account of sin, once conceived, leading into deeper and deeper dark sins until it ends in death. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”  (James 1:14-15)

 

            David’s impulse to follow a carnal desire resulted in the death of an innocent man, Uriah, and the innocent baby of Bathsheba. You may read the whole sordid affair in 2 Samuel 11 & 12. As Psalm 1 points out, sin is a downward spiral – a gradually accelerated descent into the abyss of sin. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1) In David’s case, the seed kernel of sin was shown in his heart long before the malicious fruit was made manifest. What led to David’s egregious sin of adultery and murder?

 

1.     He failed to take counsel of his duty as king to accompany his army in battle. Something in his heart urged him to remain in Jerusalem. Why?

 

2.     He arose from his bed when he should not have. He may have done so before. Perhaps he was already aware of the bathing habits of Bathsheba.

 

3.     He walked on his roof when he should have been sleeping. Looking down at the familiar sights of the locale about his palace, he saw Bathsheba bathing. He did not turn away but feasted his eyes on her in lust. Had he seen her in times past engaged in bathing? Did sinful lust slowly take root in his heart as a voracious weed among better fruits?

 

4.     Surrendering to ungodly lust, David sent for Bathsheba and slept with her. She conceived, and the net of sin closed about David. Like imbibing too long at the wine bottle, sin, when it has conceived stings like the serpent of the Garden: “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”  (Prov 23:32)

 

5.     Now David concludes his sinful descent by having Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed in battle. Though sin had taken control over David’s heart up until this point, now, the judgment of God would result in the loss of the innocent child that was the product of David’s sin.

 

          There is much to learn of the susceptibility of the unguarded human heart to sin as David had done, but there is also something to learn of the abundance of God’s grace to forgive David! A forgiven David later wrote: “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (Psalm 17:8). If God is able to forgive the terrible sins of David, do you believe His arm is shortened to forgive those of you and me? 

 

            If Eve had minded the counsel of God, she would never have walked to the wrong tree, or stopped there admiring its deadly fruit, or conversed with the evil and tempting voice. The simple advice in an old children’s song should suffice for those who would refrain their eyes from lusting in sin:

 

O be careful little eyes what you see

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little eyes what you see

Great stone cut out without hands – 24 June 2021, Anno Domini

 

 

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HOU, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.   (Daniel 2:31-35)

 

            The dream of King Nebuchadnezzar cited in the above text is one of the most sweeping prophecies of Scripture. It relates the growing power of world kingdoms until the Lord Jesus Christ destroys these attempts at world dominion just as He destroyed the first attempt at the Tower of Babel.

 

            It has long been the dream of dark conspiratorial powers to establish a global government comprised of a servant class and headed by an elitist few. But as long as even one government remains whose principles of liberty are based on the divine right rather than government grant, these dark powers are threatened with failure. Every effort has been undertaken by these political and social manipulators to undermine the social and political contract of the western powers and developed Asian nations for the purpose of supplanting those economies with socialist dictatorships. There can be no room in a totalitarian world system for a middle class. All classes, except the elitist rulers, must be reduced to serfdom and penury. The Master Mind of this grand scheme is Satan.

 

            The last bastion of a free society based on God-given rights is America. Sadly, it also is falling under the influence of indoctrinating educators, compromising and worldly religious leaders, a gradually crumbling economy that benefits all except the native citizen, and a military that seems complicit with the grand scheme of globalism. 

 

            Can this global model finally succeed? I do not believe God will allow such a system to completely succeed. The Tower at Babel was underway for quite a time before God intervened and canceled their efforts. In the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, God revealed His will and utter disdain of such a system. 

 

            Daniel interpreted the dream of the King. The succeeding empires of the world of growing size were illustrated by the great image in the dream: “This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.” Each level of the image represents a succession of world empires. The last, empire was strong as iron, yet it became divided in the feet and mixed with clay. But God will intercede prior to the final establishment of the global government. “34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” What is this “Stone cut out without hands? I believe it is the Kingdom of Heaven established by Christ. He is the great Rock and Stone cut out without hands. 

 

            Though we witness the evil taking place in our midst, and must oppose it even, if necessary to the shedding of blood, the victory belongs to Christ. Trust in the Lord and fear not when you see the emerging signs of this end-time taking place – redemption is near! “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”  (2 Thess 1:7-10)

 

Unreasonable – 23 June 2021, Anno Domini

 

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EEK ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.       (Isaiah 55:6-9)

 

               When left to his own devices, man has forever fared badly. When a man, or a nation, turns from God, the results will certainly be calamitous. God is the Great Engineer and Architect of all Time, Space, and Matter. He holds the keys of mystery behind every science for He is the Author of true Science. Of course, there is another kind of science abroad in the world that goes by the name but is pure imagination emerging from the foolish imaginations of unbelieving men. Paul warned Timothy about that brand of science that denies the Creator God: O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.  (1 Tim 6:20-2)

 

            Governments of men have often been the cesspools of evil. Ungodly men enforcing ungodly laws have been the mark and seal of such governments under the terrors of Pol Pot of Cambodia, Mae Tse Tung of China, KIM Il Sung of North Korea (and his sons), Adolf Hitler of Germany, and Fidel Castro of Cuba. None believed in God, and none ruled in righteousness. Even the models of government are corrupted. Socialism is nothing more than shared misery in which the gainful labors of one are stolen and given to one who does not labor. Such regimes always end in a death spiral of blood and terror. Both National Socialism (Nazism) and Communism are merely different expressions of socialism – one being national, the other, international, in nature. Both are on the extreme left of the political spectrum.

 

            Even in America, such unscrupulous men, and ungodly political doctrines are beginning to force themselves to the fore. The promise of free stuff to those who are unwilling to sacrifice for it is a mirage of those in bondage to big government as a god. Avoiding responsibility for one’s status in life may sound good to foolish ears, however, God has warned us: There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.   (Prov 16:25)

 

            In our own beloved America, our people have turned from the Moral Law of God and embraced abject wickedness and perversions in sex and daily living. As our social and political problems mount, the answer to every dilemma is more of the same. The one solution that would restore our nation as a Beacon of Hope to the world is the only solution that is rejected out of hand; that is, Biblical morality in government AND society itself. The counsel of God will certainly renew our hearts and minds to the things that truly matter in life: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.    (Romans 12:1-2)

 

            As long as a spark of faith remains among our nation, it remains possible to experience a fire-storm of revival. As long as there are ten righteous among the land of Sodom, God may spare the city. The kinds of wickedness heralded abroad in America today would have served to place the advocates of such wickedness in prison only a few years ago. Young children are being horribly molested and abused, young girls kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery, and children in public schools being indoctrinated in the most egregious perversions imaginable. 

 

            Starting today, ere the sun slips below the horizon, let us draw a line in the sand much as Colonel William Travis drew at the Alamo in 1836. Let us commit our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to the restoration of the America which the Providence of God led in its founding – just as did our Founding Fathers. Let there be a renewing of the mind in America and a recommitment to the God who gave us this fruitful land.

Everything shall live whither the river cometh – 22 June 2021, Anno Domini

 

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ND it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.    (Ezekiel 47:8-9)

 

            Rivers have illustrated the abundance of life in Holy Scripture. The Creator God has placed many rivers in the midst of civilizations that yield all manner of marine life providing food for the fisherman, transport for the traveler, and power for industry. If we are careful in the search, we can find that there are rivers that illustrate the nature of God’s plan for us.

 

            There was a river in the paradise of God in Eden that first gave nurturing water to the plants thereof. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden   (Gen 2:10) The Psalmist also speaks of a River of Life:  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  (Psalm 46:4-5) That river seems to fit the same description of another river related by John: 

 

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22:1-2)  As we see, the Tree of Life was removed from earth and returned to Heaven.

 

            In my younger years, I was posted to Iran (old Persia) to facilitate the military flight training program for the Iranian defense forces. I had ample opportunity to fly over many parts of that beautiful land including deserts and snow-capped mountains. I was impressed by a small river that cascaded down the slopes from the melting snows of the Zagross mountains down through the city of Esfahan and across the desert beyond. Its waters were refreshingly cold in a desert land, and pure as crystal. The length of the river (104 miles) was similar to that of the Jordan River (156 miles). Flying over the arid desert east of Esfahan, one could easily trace the route of the river as it meandered across the almost lifeless landscape. It presented a wide band of green vegetation everywhere it went providing life-giving water to all along its way. 

 

 

Typical of its nature, the river was called the Zayanderud – meaning Giver of Life. How like our Lord Jesus Christ is that river! He gave life everywhere He went, and He lived a very brief life of 33 years – similar to the limited reach of the river. 

 

The similarities to the life of Christ do not end with the above observation. The river proceeds to a dead sea in the desert wilderness called Gav-Khuni (meaning the blood of an Ox). Why does it have such a name? It is due to the peculiar coloration of the water. From the air above, it appears emerald green; but when standing on its shoreline, it appears blood red. Like the river, Christ died in the wilderness of our sins. His blood purchased our redemption so the blood of the ox, lamb, or goat was of no avail. 

 

            Those who hear His voice have been invited to drink freely of the Water of Life. Have you heard the calling? Have you responded to that call?  “16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  (Rev 22:16-17)

Hymn 341 – Beneath the Cross of Jesus – 22 June 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

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ND a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.  (Isaiah 32:2)

 

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OW there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  (John 19:25-27)

 

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UT God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)

 

            How can we abide the singing of this reverent hymn without arousing tears of gratitude and repentance in the deep of our hearts over all that our Lord has done in love for us! It carries us to an altogether higher plane of our spiritual understanding. Deep calleth unto Deep (Psalm 42:7) as the Psalmist proclaims, and the echo of God’s love reverberates through every echelon of our being. 

 

            This hymn was composed by Elizabeth Clephane of Edinburgh, daughter of the Sheriff of Fife, in 1868. Elizabeth was a quiet, compassionate girl known as “My Sunbeam” by the sick and suffering to whom she voluntarily ministered. She acknowledge her nickname by writing: 

 

I take, O Cross, thy shadow for my abiding place,

I ask no other sunshine than the Sunshine of His Face.

 

She is also the author of one other hymn, The Ninety and Nine. The tune is St. Christopher by Frederick C. Maker (1881)

 

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

 

Beneath the cross of Jesus

I fain would take my stand,


The shadow of a mighty rock

within a weary land;


A home within the wilderness,

a rest upon the way,


From the burning of the noontide heat, 

and the burden of the day.

 

O safe and happy shelter,

O refuge tried and sweet,


O trysting place where Heaven’s love

and Heaven’s justice meet!


As to the holy patriarch 

that wondrous dream was given,


So seems my Savior’s cross to me,

a ladder up to heaven.

 

There lies beneath its shadow

but on the further side


The darkness of an awful grave

that gapes both deep and wide


And there between us stands the cross

two arms outstretched to save


A watchman set to guard the way

from that eternal grave.

 

Upon that cross of Jesus

 mine eye at times can see


The very dying form of One

Who suffered there for me;


And from my stricken heart with tears

two wonders I confess;


The wonders of redeeming love

and my unworthiness.

 

I take, O cross, thy shadow

for my abiding place;


I ask no other sunshine than

the sunshine of His face;


Content to let the world go by

to know no gain or loss,


My sinful self my only shame, 

my glory all the cross.

 

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day. .The title of this hymn itself speaks volumes. There will always be an abundance of room ‘beneath the cross of Jesus.’ Men do not swarm to that place of devotion, especially in our day. Our light and frivolous contemporary worship does no honor to the Lord who died for us. But the author of this hymn took her place willingly and with pleasure. On that fateful day of our Lord’s crucifixion, all had deserted Him – His closest friends, disciples, and, in His human feeling, even the Father. But let us not forget those who did brave the foot of the cross – the women to whom Christ had done and meant so much. And there was one other, John, the Apostle of Love, young and tender of heart who could not forbear His Lord’s dying alone. He was compelled there by an unquenchable love. The shadow made by that cross was a cooling balm to a dry and thirsty land where no water was. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” (Psalm 63:1) Our pilgrimage in this world is “a dry and thirsty land,” yet the cross leads the Way as an Ensign on the battlefield thereof. Though we grow weary, we look to that Ensign and are renewed in strength. What price can we pay that compares to that which He paid for us. The Lord Jesus Christ is not only our Passover, but our Rest (Sabbath) as well.

 

O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet, O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet! As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given, So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven. What a quiet and secure rest we enjoy beneath the Cross. It was a free purchase for us yet it cost God the Father His most beloved possession. The Cross proved the full measure of God’s love for us. Not only was the Father willing to pay that sacrifice, but the Son as well was full able and willing to make it. God is Love, but God is also Just. He can condone no sinner in His Heaven; and we are all sinners saved by grace. So the Cross was the meeting place whereby Justice and Mercy converge. Christ paid the wages of sin for us. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:10)  As Jacob dreamed of that Ladder up to Heaven, his dream was of the Savior and that Cross. The vertical beam joins the believer to Christ; and the horizontal beam joins the believers to one another in LOVE.

 

There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave. The near side of the cross is mortality and death. The shadow of death is beyond its threatening beams. And yet, that shadow is merely perceived and not real. That grave of Jesus was not such an awful grave for it was only a grave borrowed for three days! Of course, it was DEEP. Its depth reached to the very gates of Hell. Of course, it was WIDE for its width was sufficient to include all who die to self and live for Christ. The cross of the unbeliever is very deep and has no exit. But the elect believer has a borrowed and open tomb from which he shall rise, as did his Lord, to heights unknown. The WAY from that eternal grave is the same Lord Jesus Christ in whom you trust.

 

        Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me; And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess; The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. That cross belonged to Christ alone – no other was qualified to bear it, or to endure the penalty for our sins upon it. Can you, in your own mind’s eye, see that sacrifice made for you on the cross? His heart was fixed, not on a multitude, but upon each of us in Christ from the foundation of the world – BY NAME! The Names of His faithful were CUT in the palms of His Hands! “15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. * 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16) The Love of Christ surpasses every measure of the human mind. Though our sins are great and egregious, His Love is greater by far. 

 

Though Christ died on the cross, His love never dies! “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

 

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face; Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss, My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross. Have we resolved to live in the shadow of the cross of our Lord? In all our daily walk and failures, do we look to that cross for succor as the children of the wilderness looked to the brazen serpent for healing (which only foreshadowed the greater assumption of our sins by Jesus on the Cross at Calvary)? The Sunshine of His Love must not be eclipsed by the desires and temptations of this world. “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” (Philippians 1:20-23)

 

The cross is a shameful instrument of torture, yet, it is the Fountainhead and Glory of the redeemed sinner. The false glimmers and swamp lights of the world confound us daily, yet in the midst of a chaotic world of lies and deceit, we can look to the cross to know absolute love and absolute truth. The sunbeams emanating therefrom light the path of the pilgrim in search of a better land – the Way, the Truth and the Life– in our Lord Jesus Christ.