That Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

 

That old rugged cross. Time worn, weather beaten, oft forgotten. Once set in place with care, love, honor. Now neglected, overgrown, and inconvenient. You can see the field in the background, encroaching year by year. One day, perhaps, by mistake or design, the cross will be plowed under. Lost. Forgotten.

Is this your story?

What does the cross of Christ mean to you? As the old hymn says, it is an emblem of suffering and shame. Are you ashamed? Ashamed of the cross, of He who suffered on it?

No, of course not! Here we are, Christians, blogging and networking, proclaiming the worth and cause of Christ. We are not ashamed! Not here, at least. But what about out there?

In the landscape of your life, what place does that old rugged cross have? Placed in your heart by God Himself, it will be worn and weathered by the storms of life. Blood stained, rough-hewn, ugly to many--where do you place it? Is it relegated to the edges of the "more fertile" fields in your life? Is it overgrown with weeds of the world? Is it in danger of one day being plowed under, lost and forgotten?

He deserves better.

It's not about the cross. Not really. It is an emblem of suffering and shame. What is really important, what really matters, is He who was on it. He who overcame it. That's what matters. The cross is a visual reminder of what's important. Jesus.

And yes, he deserves better. The cross deserves better, because it is our representation of His sacrifice, His saving us from ourselves. Not that we need to paint it, gold plate it, make it pretty. In so doing, we cover what it is. 

But we cannot afford to neglect it, forget it, allow it to be plowed under for the sake of worldly gain. It needs to be, deserves to be, has to be placed in front of all. Not hidden away, protected, out of sight. Rather, prominent. Visible. Remembered.

The last stanza.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
It's shame and approach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

Will you?

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.