In many cases Christians wear, a cross around their neck but are unwilling to bear a cross in their daily lives, because, quite frankly, it’s much easier to wear a cross than to bear a cross. My friends when we fully understand what the cross of Christ signifies, I believe, bearing our cross will become not only possible but a privilege and joy.
For you see at the cross of Christ, a most unique thing happened: God’s love for lost sinners and His perfect justice met. It’s at the cross where the wounds of sin are healed. It’s at the cross where emotional problems can receive healing. And it’s at the cross where real comfort for suffering can be obtained as we meditate on the suffering that Jesus went through on our behalf.
And while it’s true that God’s holiness demands payment for sin, His love offers pardon. And the only way God could reconcile us back to Himself was at the cross where Jesus took the penalty we deserved, on Himself.
My friends, if you are like me, there are times I struggle with worldliness. But just what is worldliness? I like how the website gotquestions.org describes worldliness: “The dictionary definition of ‘worldly’ is ‘relating to, or devoted to, the temporal world.’ Worldliness, then, is the condition of being concerned with worldly affairs, especially to the neglect of spiritual things. The Bible has a great deal to say about worldliness, none of it good.”1
At times I get caught up in the latest news of the day, which is mostly negative, at the expense of spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and worshipping the Lord. But I believe there is a great remedy we can invoke to help us overcome worldliness and that is meditating on the cross of Christ. J. C. Ryle offered great insight here when he said: “Look to the cross, think of the cross, meditate on the cross, and then go and set your affections on the world if you can.”2 Scripture tells us: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18). There is great power in meditating on the cross of Christ.
But just how can meditating on the cross of Christ help us in our struggle with worldliness? Well for starters when we think about the cross do you realize that I did it – my sins sent Him there, but Christ also did it – His love took Him there. Imagine my sinful worldly lifestyle was what motivated Jesus to endure the pain and horrors of Calvary. When I wouldn’t give God the time of day, He still had me on His mind and His great love for me sent Him to the cross to save me from eternal damnation – now that’s a lot of love! Jerry Bridges helps us to grasp the immensity of this love: “If we want proof of God’s love for us, then we must look first at the Cross where God offered up His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvary is the one objective, absolute, irrefutable proof of God’s love for us.”3
A second thought concerns viewing the cross as Jesus viewed it. Rather than view the cross as an instrument of ultimate pain and suffering, which it was, He chose to view it as an instrument of ultimate glorification to the Father. And we too can view bearing our cross daily, not negatively, but as our way of bringing glory to the Father. John Piper sums this thought up so well: “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us — a crucified God — must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”4
Finally, I pray that you reflect on the realization that the cross, if viewed properly, can be the greatest power source to overcome worldliness by providing us with the joy, peace, strength, and hope that this world can never offer us. Michael Youssef sums up this thought well: “Only in the Cross of Christ will we receive power when we are powerless. We will find strength when we are weak. We will experience hope when our situation is hopeless. Only in the Cross is there peace for our troubled hearts.”5
Worldliness can be very alluring, but when we view the cross of Christ properly, its matchless beauty and consuming love will give us the power and desire to say no to the world and yes to Christ!
1 What does the Bible say about worldliness? | GotQuestions.org
2 Short pithy gems from JC Ryle
3 19 Important Quotes about the Cross | ChristianQuotes.info
4 Don’t Waste Your Life Quotes by John Piper
5 Michael Youssef – Only in the Cross of Christ will we receive power…