Sunday, August 19, 2001
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Sunday, August 19, 2001 |
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Your Cross By DR. KNOX HERNDON There is a story circulating on the internet you may have seen. A young man was at the end of his rope and seeingno way out, dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy of a cross to bear." The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish." The man was filled with relief and said, "Thank you, Lord," and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in." When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined. Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, there will always be someone with you. Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall, but God's always there to help you through it all. Throughout our ministry my wife, Dee, and I have seen a lot of crosses and a lot of people dealing with them. I purposely didn't say "carrying them" as this point because some "carry" and some "lay them down" at the first signs of any discomfort. This is what scares me about our American churches these days. We try so hard to make people "comfortable" rather than equip them to deny themselves, pick up their crosses daily and follow Jesus of Nazereth. Remember him? The one that was crucified between two thieves, and who died, was buried and rose again from the grave for your sins and mine? I attend on Tuesdays four meetings. We first have our church men's breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Chick-fil-A. I then drive to IHOP to meet with the South Metro Pastors' Association for another later breakfast. Then at noon I travel to our Fairburn Baptist Association luncheon at Shoney's near Shannon Mall. Then Tuesday nights we do home visitation in our community. I am sharing this schedule to show that on Tuesdays in my life, on a weekly basis, I hear a lot of "cross" situations and how people are dealing with them. It is truly an education. I used to watch my mother and father with their daily "cross bearing." I can even remember getting angry with my mother because it appeared that people were taking advantage of her due to her Christian spirit. I would say, "Mother, why do you let people treat you this way and why are you putting yourself last?" At the time I never realized that she was modeling for me the daily "cross bearing" that Jesus was and is trying to get across to us to understand and to do on a daily basis. Another thing scares me that we so want people to receive Christ that we often neglect the "cross bearing" aspect of the faith. Then when the tsunami waves hit we often are swept away with all the other obstacles. I will confess that I have probably been guilty of this also. It almost sounds unAmerican to deny ourselves ANYTHING! After all isn't that what 5th Avenue wants us to believe? You deserve it, Baby, no matter WHAT it is! Just do it! The answers to "cross bearing" are found in God's word. The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a former Army chaplain. The church is below Senoia on Ga. Highway 85 a mile south of Ga. Highway 16 on the right just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.
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