July 17, 2016
MY FRIENDS, BENEATH THE BURDEN OF THE CROSS WILL WE SURVIVE?
“The Saviour’s burden was too heavy for Him in His weak and suffering condition. Since the Passover supper with His disciples, He had taken neither food nor drink. He had agonized in the garden of Gethsemane in conflict with satanic agencies. He had endured the anguish of the betrayal, and had seen His disciples forsake Him and flee. He had been taken to Annas, then to Caiaphas, and then to Pilate. From Pilate He had been sent to Herod, then sent again to Pilate.
From insult to renewed insult, from mockery to mockery, twice tortured by the scourge, all that night there had been scene after scene of a character to try the soul of man to the uttermost. Christ had not failed. He had spoken no word but that tended to glorify God. All through the disgraceful farce of a trial He had borne Himself with firmness and dignity. But when after the second scourging the cross was laid upon Him, human nature could bear no more. He fell fainting beneath the burden.” (E.G. White, Desire Of Ages, p 741-742)
My friends, the story does not end there, because His destination was Calvary, then His resurrection. And one day soon we who are faithful and endure
to the end and who have “forsaken all others” will see Him in all His glory “return in like manner as He left going into heaven.” And not just the redeemed but every eye shall see him, [even] they which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev, 1:7 (KJV)
It’s personal, because every eye shall see Christ second coming. For the righteous “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4 (KJV) But for the ungodly no one will wipe their tears as they wail, because it is at that point they realize they have squandered their salvation away on the things of this world and now “the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and [they] are not saved.” Jer. 8:20 (KJV)
Christ has told us we also have a cross to bear, but first we must allow His Spirit to transform our character as we “deny self and become His disciple.” And at tines, like Him it will seem like we can “bear no more.” And at times we will fall down and “faint beneath the burden” of our cross. But our faith and endurance will tell us the story will not end until God says, “well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt:25:23 (KJV)
The burdens of our cross at times will be heavy because of the scourging of the trials of this world, but, this too will pass, if His faithful who have “forsaken all others” will diligently obey the Lord our God, being careful to do all His commandments which He command us today, the Lord our God will set us high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon us” Deut. 28:1-2 (NASB)
But if the things of this world are more appealing remember, “what profit is it to a man [or woman] if they gain the whole world, and loses their own soul? Or what will a man [or woman] give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Matt. 16:26-27 (NKJV)
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