I’ve heard the question a number of times, and I’ve even asked it myself previously:  Why is a cross the symbol of Christianity?

Let’s be honest here.  The cross is a symbol for Jesus’s death.  It is a reminder that Christ died for our sins.  It is also an image of the immeasurable sacrifice that God made as he sent His only begotten son to die a horrible death.

In order to appreciate Christ’s death on the cross, we need to recognize that we are indeed sinful by nature and completely unable to redeem ourselves for those sins.  Let’s take those points one at a time.

First, sin is part of who we are as fallen human beings.  Do you know anybody that isn’t sinful?  Let’s set aside the Ten Commandments for a moment and look at things more practically.  Do you ever succomb to pride, greed, jealousy, laziness, overindulgence, wrath, or lust?  I know I have.  Over and over again throughout my life I’ve been guilty of these sins.  Who’s hasn’t?  Be honest with yourself and you’ll see.

Next, I guess I should acknowledge that we need have a desire to be saved.  Knowing that we’re sinful by nature doesn’t necessarily mean that we want to do something about it.  There are people I know that just don’t want to let go of their lifestyle.  Others believe that God doesn’t exist or that He isn’t interested in us in any personal way.

Finally, we need to recognize that we can’t save ourselves from our sinful nature.  Paul addresses this in his letter to the church in Ephesus…

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  –Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

We can’t do anything pleasing enough in God’s eye to be worthy of His forgiveness.  God’s grace is a gift, one that we don’t deserve.

Only by acknowledging these three points do we begin to recognize the enormous significance of the cross.  Jesus paid our debt so that we may have life; but we have to believe!

The title of this post, and our call to action as Christians,  is to “take up your cross” and follow Jesus.  Following Jesus entails a life of sacrifice.  As Jesus stressed, we must honor the Lord and love our neighbors as ourselves.  Serving God and serving others means NOT serving ourselves.  Not serving ourselves is sacrifice.  To “take up your cross” is to endaevour to be more like Christ in all aspects, especially his own self-sacrifice.  That quality, above all others, is what separates Christians apart.

Let us make every effort to understand the meaning of taking up our crosses to to live it out in our lives.  Amen.