“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” – Jesus (John 3:16-18)
Life is filled with choices. Everyday we must decide how we respond to the circumstances around us. Do we go right or left? Do we say hello or keep silent? Do we get up or hit the “snooze”? Where should I go to college? Some are simple and have little impact on our life and some are big and can determine our future path.
There is a decision that is THE most important decision that you will ever make. It is the decision that affects every aspect of your life from now to eternity. This decision deals with your past, defines your present and determines your future. There is no greater decision you will make. In fact, this decision will direct every other one you will ever make.
How will you respond to the cross of Jesus?
Is it just another dramatic story of a martyred religious leader or was this a rescue orchestrated and carried out by God Himself? Is it what the Scripture says it is…God demonstrating His great love for you? Or, are we doomed to fend for ourselves in bondage to our selfishness and pride…lost in a world without meaning? Could the cross be the pathway to your forgiveness and fulfillment? Is the cross foolishness or the power of God to you?
The cross of Jesus requires us to respond. Do you believe it or not? We can decide that it is foolish…that it doesn’t make sense…the cross was a failure…and we can walk away continuing to search for the answer to the aching within us. We can decide that it is unbelievable and not for us. There is no way the God of the universe would do this for all people…let alone me. And we bury the body of Jesus in a tomb and walk away without hope.
It was almost like God gave the followers of Jesus some time to think it over that first Saturday after Jesus was buried. It was a day when the reality of the cross of Jesus began to sink in and each one needed to decide what they believed. Was He really who He said He was? Were all the promises of hope and eternal life empty? What was that He said about suffering and dying…and the third day?
How do we find the hope of the Messiah in the midst of the graveyard? We must understand the simple truth that Jesus died, but He died in our place so that we could live! Jesus erased our sin and transformed an instrument of execution into an instrument of restoration. He took away the fear of death and transformed a “dead-end” into a pathway into eternal life.
The beatitudes are characteristics of those who have chosen to believe it for themselves. They are signs that you have made the cross and the resurrection personal. It is no longer a religion for you but a relationship. All of the blessings of these attitudes are the benefits of a genuine decision to follow Jesus as your Savior and Lord.
Have you decided to follow Jesus? The answer to that question determines everything.