What will you leave at the cross?
Thirty years ago, I read the story of Nicky Cruz and David
Wilkerson. Nicky was involved in gang violence, drug dealing and Satan worship.
He became the most feared gang president in
New York
.
One day, a skinny preacher called David Wilkerson invited
Nicky and his gang to a Gospel Mission. They went along with the intention of
stealing the collection. David Wilkerson told Nicky and his vicious gang how all
their sins could be forgiven, by a loving God who gave His Son on a cross for
them. That Night, Nicky prayed his first prayer
“Oh God, if you love me, come into my life. I’m tired of running. Come into
my life and change me. Please change me.”
Immediately, Nicky felt himself being lifted heavenward
and being baptised with love.
Nicky describes it like this:
“All my fear was gone. All my anxieties were gone. All
my hatred was gone. I was in love with God ... with Jesus Christ ... with those
around me.
Nicky Cruz had come to the cross and left all the bad
things in his life there and they were being replaced with love.
COME TO THE CROSS
Easter’s message to us is God calling out to each person
—‘come to the cross.’ He wants you there, not to observe it or analyse it,
but to leave something there! God wants to tidy up all those things that keep
you from really loving Him and knowing you are walking in His will.
God chose you in the most costly way possible. It happened on a cross of
splintered wood. Jagged nails, Indescribable pain, All for you. All so God could
win your heart and you could freely live for Him.
Listen again to Jesus’ words:
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put
aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me.” (Mark8: 34)
WHAT CAN YOU LEAVE AT THE CROSS?
You can leave all your bad habits, mistakes and anxieties
at the cross.
BAD HABITS
Your selfish moods and white lies. God wants them. Your
binges and bigotries. Hand them over to God. Every failure and disappointment.
He wants every single one. Why? It’s because God knows we can’t live with
them and
his commitment to us is to:
“remove our sins” (Romans
11:27
.) This can only happen when we bring our bad habits and
leave them at the cross.
MISTAKES
It’s often said, “We all make mistakes!” That phrase
can often be used simply as a smokescreen for the things we’ve done wrong. God
sees through our smokescreens. He sees the truth of our lives and our sins.
God sees all our mistakes, he wants the mistakes we have
made and the ones we are making! Are you making some? Are you drinking too much?
Are you involved in violence, like Nicky Cruz? Are you cheating at work or in
your marriage? Are you mismanaging money? Are you mismanaging your life? If so,
don’t pretend nothing is wrong. Bring your mistakes and leave them at the
cross.
ANXIETIES
Too often, you carry sins, faults, troubles and
worries. These anxieties Jesus offers to lift off your shoulders. “Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest.”
(Matt
11:28
)
You don’t have to carry any of these things any longer
than you want to, for Jesus Christ is waiting to lift them from you, and to wipe
them all away. All you have to do is ask. At the cross.
Thirty years ago, I was captivated by the amazing story of
David Wilkerson and God’s amazing forgiveness for Nicky. Today, I’m still
amazed at the message of God’s forgiveness. God loves you so much, that he
gave his Son at the cross for all your troubles. You can have true and real joy
when you come first and leave all your sins and burdens at the cross.
Sam Wright
P.S. You can hear David
Wilkerson in the Waterfront Hall on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd
May at
8.00 p.m.
To book, phone 9029 2266 for your free tickets.
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