In Galatians 6:14 we read these words, “ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. “ The word “Glory” used here means to make a boast. There are many things that people “glory” in, such as their pedigree, education, talents, and abilities. Often we “glory” in church statistics (baptisms, decisions, etc) accomplishments, and even our own (relative) righteousness. Yet the Apostle writes to those early Christians that the ONLY thing in which he can boast is the Cross of Christ! It is the cross that enables us to see how much God loves us and how He makes us worthy to enter into His fellowship.
The cross, in and of itself, is not an object of worship for us. It is a reminder to us of the great price that was paid for our pardon, by the Lord, Jesus Christ. It speaks of the fact that upon that old rugged cross that God “… made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21) It is the cross that enables us to see how much God loves us and how He makes us worthy to enter into his fellowship.
The cross is more than a decoration or a piece of jewelry. I have known many men and women who wear the cross on a necklace. In fact, I have seen the reigning home run king of baseball with a cross dangling from his ear. It is commendable to wear the cross as a symbol of Christian faith, but I would remind us all that while it’s fine to WEAR the cross, the Bible tells us we are to BEAR the cross. The cross of Christ was not a pretty cross. The songwriter calls it “rugged” and mentions that it is the emblem of suffering and shame. The cross is a sign of reproach, and yet it is a symbol of victory - victory over the enemy and all his power.
The Cross of Christ is not a light cross. It is heavy with the weight of all our sin! The cross shows mankind at his worst, and yet the cross also shows us God at His best! Great things happened at the cross and great things happen still today when men and women and young people look with faith to the Cross of Christ.
Isaac Watts expressed it's importantce as well as any human writer might when he wrote the old hymn "At The Cross":
"Alas, and did my saviour bleed, and did my Sovreign die?
Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?
Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown, and Love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut his glories in,
When Christ the mighty maker died, for man, the creature’s, sin.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe;
Here Lord I give myself away, ‘tis all that I can do.
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!"
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6: 14.
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