Looking At The World Through The Cross! (and others)

Looking At The World Through The Cross! (and others)

"May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14).

Jesus could accomplish man's redemption in no other way than by crucifixion. He must die - and die the death of the cruel Cross.

What light and glory beam around the Cross!

Of what prodigies of grace, is it the instrument, of what glorious truths, is it the symbol, of what mighty transforming power, is it the source!

Around the Cross gathers all the light of the Old Testament economy: it explains every symbol, it substantiates every shadow, it solves every mystery, it fulfills every type, it confirms every prophecy, of that dispensation which had eternally remained unmeaning and inexplicable, but for the death of the Son of God upon the Cross.

Not the past only - but all future splendor gathers around the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. It assures us of the ultimate reign of the Saviour, and tells of the reward which shall spring from His sufferings. And while its one arm points to the divine counsels of eternity past - with the other it points to the future triumph and glory of Christ's kingdom in the eternity to come! Such is the lowly yet sublime, the weak yet mighty instrument, by which the sinner is saved and God eternally glorified.

The Cross of Christ is the grand consummation of all preceding dispensations of God to men; the meritorious procuring cause of all spiritual blessings to our fallen race; the scene of Christ's splendid victories over all His enemies and ours; the most powerful incentive to all evangelical holiness; the instrument which is to subjugate the world to the supremacy of Jesus; the source of all true peace, joy and hope; the tree beneath whose shadow all sin expires, all grace lives.

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! What a holy thrill these words produce in the heart of those who love the Saviour! How significant is their meaning, how precious is their influence!

Marvelous and irresistible, is the power of the Cross! The Cross of Christ has subdued many a rebellious will; broken many a marble heart; laid low many a vaunting foe; overcome and triumphed, when all other instruments have failed; transformed the lion-like heart of man, into the lamb-like heart of Christ!

When lifted up in its own bare simplicity and inimitable grandeur - the Cross of Christ has won and attracted millions to its faith, admiration, and love!

What a marvelous power does this Cross of Jesus possess! It changes the Christian's entire judgment of the world. Looking at the world through the Cross - his opinion is totally revolutionized.

He sees the world as it really is - a sinful, empty, vain thing. He learns its iniquity, in that it crucified the Lord of life and glory. His expectations from the world, and his love to the world, are transformed. He has found another object of love - the Saviour whom the world cast out and slew. His love to the world is destroyed by that power which alone could destroy it - the crucifing power of the Cross.

It is the Cross which eclipses, in the view of the true believer, the glory and attraction of every other object.

What is the weapon by which faith combats with, and overcomes the world? What but the Cross of Jesus!

Just as the natural eye, gazing for a while upon the sun, is blinded for the moment to all other objects by its overpowering effulgence; so to the believer, concentrating his mind upon the glory of the crucified Saviour, studying closely the wonders of grace and love and truth meeting in the Cross - the world with all its attraction fades into the full darkness of an eclipse.

Christ and His Cross is infinitely better than the world and its trinkets!

"May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14).

~Octavius Winslow~
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Yes, He is Altogether Lovely!

"Yes, He is altogether lovely" (Song of Songs 5:16).

Jesus is most desirable in Himself - and all things that are desirable are in Him. Beauty is in Christ, bounty is in Christ, riches and honor are in Christ. Jesus Christ is the treasure hidden in the gospel, and the pearl of great price. He is the sun in the firmament of the Scriptures, whom to know is everlasting life. He is a spring full of the water of life, a hive of sweetness, a storehouse of riches, a river of pleasures, wherein you may bathe your souls to all eternity! Oh, He is all fullness and sweetness! "He is the chief among ten thousand! (Song of Songs 5:10).

You may go to heaven without health, without wealth, without honor, without pleasure, without friends, without learning, but you can never go to Heaven without Christ! "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

"He loved me - and gave Himself for me!" (Galatians 2:20). All that Christ did and suffered - it is for me!

All that Christ has - is mine!

Christ's love is mine to pity me! Christ's mercy is mine to save me! Christ's graces are mine to beautify me! Christ's power is mine to protect me! Christ's wisdom is mine to counsel me! Christ's Spirit is mine to comfort and guide me! Christ's Word is mine to teach me! Christ's glory is mine to crown me!

Therefore, a grain of saving grace in the heart, is better than a chain of gold around the neck!

~William Dyer~