Don't forget the Cross!!

Above you will see the "Christmas" decorations that I display in my front yard every year. I will be the first to tell you how hesitant I am to celebrate something that is on a Pagan holy day (December 25th is winter solstice) or any Roman Catholic 'Mass' (Christmas = Christ's Mass). Much less a secular holiday that centers around an omniscient fatman in red suit, flying around the world in a sleigh being pulled by reindeer.






But the subject of the Holiday, Jesus, is well worth a display. Also, in the past I've used the display as a 'spring board' into the Gospel with my neighbors.

I've had people ask me, "Why the cross? Isn't Christmas about the birth of Jesus". My reply is, "Jesus may be the 'Reason for the Season'...but the cross is the 'reason for Jesus'."

Acts 2:23 NASB "this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."

1 John 4:14 NASB "We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."

It was God's plan, determined before the creation of the world, to send Jesus here to be crucified. They would say, "But why would God send Jesus here to die a horrible death like that? What kind of god is that?" I would say "a loving God, let me explain."

You see there is a problem in this world, called sin. It was brought into this world by Adam (Romans 5:12) and we continue the heritage.


Romans 3:10-12 NASB "as it is written, 'THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; (11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; (12) ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.' "

Romans 3:23 NASB "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

How many lies have you told? Even one lie makes you liar. Stealing anything, no matter the value (even downloading an MP3 illegally), makes you a thief. God even judges our thought life. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:27-28 NASB "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; (28) but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

God sees lust as adultery and anger as murder (Matthew 5:21-22). Compared to a perfect and Holy God we are all sinners in need of a savior. God is a just god and can not allow law breakers (like us) to go unpunished (Nahum 1:3). The punishment for sin is a place called Hell, where there is an eternal flame and 'weeping and gnashing of teeth'. (Matthew 5:22, 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 18:8, 18:9, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30 25:41 - Mark 9:43-49 - Luke 13:28 - John 15:6).

No matter how many good deeds we do, we can't make up for our sins. It would be like a murder going before a judge and saying, "I only murdered once. Most the time I do good things. I give money to the poor, can you please forget about the murder and let me go?" OF COURSE NOT!! What kind of judge would let a murder go because he does "good things"? Neither can a Holy and Righteous God. He has to punish "law breakers". Like us. But, because He loves us, He provided a way.

God became a man, Jesus. He lived a perfect and sinless life (of course He did...He's God), something we could not do. He choose to die on a Roman cross and die a horrible death that He did not deserve. But, more was going on at that cross than just another Jew being crucified.





The perfect, sinless son of God took OUR sins upon himself and he bore the FULL wrath of God, that we deserved, upon Himself. He paid our price on that cross. Not only that, but He was buried and on the third day he defeated death. He conquered death. Then He ascended to the "Right Hand of the Father". (Romans 8:34) He took our penalty, so we can be declared clean in the eyes of God. (Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 4:9-10) We wear HIS righteousness not our own. But, not everyone is saved. (Matthew 7:21) Just as if I offer you a gift, you have to accept it. Likewise you have to accept God's free gift. You have to acknowledge your sin and your need for a savior. You have to repent (turn from your sin) from your sin and turn your life over to Jesus. (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30, 26:20) Live your life for Him. And He will make a "new creature" with new desires. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Is Jesus your Lord...or is your sin your lord? Which one rules your life?

That is why at this time of year, we need to remember the cross and our sin...the reason for the "birth".


Galatians 6:14 NASB "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

Who's George??

Last week I took a little walk at lunch time to Subway on Dexter Avenue in Downtown Montgomery (Alabama). On my way I saw this man who was standing on the corner with a folder. He was dressed modestly.

     He didn't look like a homeless person, but you could tell his clothing was old and slightly tattered. He approached me as I walked down the sidewalk and handed me a piece of old, wrinkled paper with a poem on it. He said he was a writer trying to collect money for supplies, card stock and such.

     Now many of you may disagree with me, but I have a personal rule that I don't give anyone asking for money cash. If they are hungry I'll buy them a meal. If they need gas I will fill up their tank. But, I don't give cash. Now, I don't think there is anything necessarily wrong with giving them cash (ultimately they will have to answer to God for what they do with it), but this is a personal preference.

     After Talking with him briefly I asked him if he was hungry. He said, "Not yet". I read his poem quietly, I politely told him "thank you" and then I went about my business (I was hungry). While eating at Subway I was trying to think of a way to meet back up with him and present the Gospel to him. After I finished eating I asked the lady at Subway if they have a gift certificate or gift card. She told me they do have gift cards, so I asked for one and put $8.00 on it (enough for him to buy a footlong sandwich, chips and drink).

     On my way back to work I walked by him again. I shook his hand, handed him the gift card and told him lunch was on me today. He thanked me and showed me a poem about God. I used that as a springboard to get into "The Law of God". We talked briefly about how we all have violated God's law and how we all deserve Hell. He actually agreed with me. So, I asked him, "Then how do we get to Heaven?" He gave me the right answer. He told me, "Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the Cross and paid the price for us." I then asked him, "Well, does everyone goto heaven?" Again he had the right answer. He said, "You have to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus." We talked a little more and he seemed to have a good understanding of the Gospel.

I left him with a Million Dollar Bill Tract and went on my way back to work. But, I still had that man on my mind. I was determined to come back some other day and see if he was still there. Well that was last Thursday, I went back today.

     He was in the same spot on Dexter Avenue. I shook his hand and at first he didn't recognize me. I told him I met him last week and he said, "Oh you were the guy who bought me the sandwich." I told him my name was Payton and asked him his name. He said, "George". I then asked him how things are going and if he needed anything. He said, "Well I could use another one of those sandwiches." He said it in such a way, I couldn't tell if he was serous or not. I said, "Sure!!" After I ate lunch I came back with another gift card and gave him a Ten Commandment's coin. I told him, "I like to have these around to remind of how I've broke God's Law and my need for a Saviour." We talked for a few minutes. He was very thankful and then he went about his business. I ask you all to be in prayer for George and that he may truly understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I plan on coming back again soon.