The Cross

I once heard a preacher say "It is easier to wear a cross than to bear a cross". I got to thinking about what he had said, and it hit me like ton of bricks. I have watched these foul-mouthed rap stars flaunt their big, gaudy crosses and spew the nastiest trash from their mouth. I got to wondering what God had to think about his creation treating the cross (on which His only begotten son died) like it was nothing more than a fashion statement.

But I'm here to tell you there is most certainly coming a day when a person will lose their head for wearing a cross. There is coming a day when God will pull back the restrainer (the Holy Spirit) and evil will have his complete way. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. And now you know what withholds, that he might be revealed in his time. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,6)

Someone (the Holy Spirit) is holding back the man of sin (restraining his work) until something happens. 1Thessalonians 5:9 tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that the something that the whole world is waiting for is the rapture. Even the man of sin (Satan) knows that on that day he will have free reign on this earth. Basically, what that means is if you do not choose salvation through Jesus then you are in for 7 years of "you ain't seen nothing yet".

I guess what I want you to ask yourself is this, "Am I willing to bear the cross that I am so willing wear?" Afterall, it's not about what is around your neck it is about what's in your heart. Time is so very short and your chances are running out. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow me." The cross that Jesus is talking about in not one you wear around you neck. We need to choose daily to deny our own selfish desires and choose instead to follow after Jesus, who is our example.