Let’s take a journey! I want you to think about all the sinful things you have done. Also, I want you to think about the hard times you had in your life. Maybe you had a life-threatening illness, an accident, you were abused, you lost a loved one, you went through a divorce, you lost employment, you lost a home, or had a near-death experience?
Next, I want you to reflect on your emotions during those hard or sinful times? Be honest, were you feeling lonely, scared, ashamed, selfish, worried, self-pity, anger, or humiliated?
Next, I want you to really think about how you made it through those tough times? Did you rely on your family, friends, yourself, your church, or God?
Now, I want you to carve your burdens, pain, sins & emotions into a big, wooden cross. Now pick up that cross & carry it while we reflect on those times.
{Matthew 10:38} If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
I would like for you to imagine that cross (with all of your sins, pain, burdens, & emotions riddled on it), as you carry it down a long, dirt road, with the weight being as heavy as the heartache it brought. You are ashamed, tired, beat up, and sore, emotionally & physically, and the weight of that cross is getting harder to drag the further you stumble down the long, dirt road.
{Proverbs 29:25} Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.
Imagine your loved ones watching you in despair, unable or unwilling to help, as you stumble to your knees, many times, and fight to get back to your feet. And you feel the fear & anguish, as you continue down the road, while strangers and enemies, alike, are mocking and ridiculing you as you stumble by carrying your heavy, riddled cross.
{Micah 7:8} Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
And Satan is pushing you back, knocking you to your knees over & over again, while trying to taunt you into submission. You are enduring searing pain as the sweat & tears are rolling down your body & over your open wounds. Yet, you continue to push pass your enemies & Satan while stumbling down the road.
{1 Peter 5:9} Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
Now, imagine a hill in the far distance, flowing with beautiful flowers, trees, and abundant sunshine, while many magnificent birds are flying overhead. On that hill you also see a glorious view of Jesus waiting to embrace you. Your endurance & strength are dwindling as you look ahead at the long distance you have left to go.
{Proverbs 4:25-27} Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
And as you get closer, you shout in despair to be rescued!
{Psalms 119:153-154} Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions. Argue my case; take my side! Protect my life as you promised.
Jesus runs to you, knocks Satan down, and takes up your cross.
Hallelujah…the weight of your cross is gone and your burdens are instantly lifted!
Jesus carries your heavy cross down the rest of that long, dirt road while he helps you endure the rest of your journey to the hill of paradise. And on the hill is where he binds up your wounds & heals you.
{Psalms 147:3} He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
Imagine how you felt when Jesus came to rescue you? The weight, the shame, the pain, the burdens….ALL DISAPPEARED!
As Jesus burns your cross at the foot of the hill, you see all of your sins, burdens, pain, & emotions riddled on your cross, burnt to ashes, and you feel great peace, love, healing, and forgiveness!
I want you to really think about that! Think about when no one else could take your sins or pain from you, Jesus did! He let you endure until you thought you couldn’t endure any longer, then he waited for you to cry out for help, he waited for the perfect time, and then he ran to rescue you! He wanted you to endure until you found the faith to realize that…he is the true strength & he will rescue you!
{1 Peter 5:10} In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
It is easy to fall into sinful ways. And it is human nature to think that we can endure life’s struggles on our own, or with the help of our loved ones. But, Jesus is the true healer…he is the one that can carry your heavy cross and help you through! He is the one who endured so much pain and suffering FOR US, so we may be forgiven!
Jesus is my strength, my healer, my hero….MY LIFESAVER! He is my example of how I ought to live !
When hard times arise, and they will, look to Jesus for your strength! Remember how much he had to endure and how much he loves you!
{1 Peter 4:1} So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.
So, when you are dragging your tattered, heavy cross down that long, dirt road, will you find the strength & faith to endure & cry out to Jesus so you can reach the hill of paradise, or will you fall flat on your face in the dirt, unable to withstand the burdens by yourself any longer?
{1 Peter 1:21} Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
Remember that Jesus is our lifesaver! He was pure & sinless and still chose to die on that cross over 2000 years ago, for OUR sins..ALL OF US!
{1 Peter 1:19} “It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
He chose to die for our sins, so we may be forgiven & live eternity in paradise with him. But even death did not defeat him, he was risen & HE LIVES!
{Matthew 28:5-6} “Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
Everything is easier with Jesus! You may still feel the guilt, shame, and pain, but with Jesus it will be more bearable! With Jesus you will be able to withstand all the heartache that life throws at you, because he truly loves you, cares for you, and he understands your pain. After all, Jesus endured horrific, unbearable pain to save us!
{Philippians 4:13} For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Praise the Lord, for he is sooo faithful & good!!!
