(Biblical vector illustration series. Way of the Cross or Stations of the Cross, twelfth station.)
It was a whirlwind kind of day and though we were spread apart in our different areas, we all came back together with an enjoyable supper and now wrapping things up. May I hear You and put forth what You desire. Amen.
********
When I traveled back and forth to Kohl’s all those years, I had a fair amount of time on my hands – it was about a 40-minute trip one way barring any traffic issues along the way. One thing I enjoyed doing was listening to Christian radio and at the time there was a station that aired a combo of music and speakers. One I enjoyed was Pastor Alistair Begg. He is a Scotsman by birth but has been the pastor of Cleveland’s Parkside Church here in Ohio since 1983. Based on what I heard, I always found him to be very solid doctrinally.
Anyway, the other day while on TikTok, I came across a portion of a sermon he delivered back in November 2019, entitled “The Power and Message of the Cross”. Here is the text of that segment.
If you were to die tonight and you were getting entry into heaven, what would you say? If [we] answered that in the first person we’ve immediately gone wrong.
Because I…because I believed…because I have faith…because I am continuing…
Loved ones, the only proper answer is in the third person, because He…because He…
Think about the thief on the cross…I can’t wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, “How did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend. You’ve never been in a Bible study, you never got baptized, you didn’t know a thing about church membership and yet you made it! How did you make it?”
That’s what the angel must have said… “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I don’t know…”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“Well like because I don’t know!”
[The angel was at a total loss for words and stuttered around for a bit then said,] “Excuse me, let me get my supervisor.”
[The angelic supervisor said,] “So we have just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?”
He said, “I’ve never heard of it…”
“Let’s just go to the doctrine of Scripture immediately…” And the guy’s just staring… and eventually, [the supervisor] says, “On what basis are you here?”
And he said, “The Man on the middle cross said I can come.”
And that is the only answer!
Much too often, we as established believers make things too complicated! And we feel that we have to find into answer when Jesus is the only answer! We don’t fit into the answer part whatsoever. We didn’t provide that answer. We didn’t even think up the answer. We are only recipients of the Answer, and all we can say is thank You, Lord God Almighty! Where would we be without You?!
Nov 30th, 2022, Wed, 7:12 pm
