Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
It is with a heavy heart that I even begin to write this blog. For the most part I am usually able to just let things slide and keep on going, but I guess I'm finally at the point in my life, my Christian life, that things are weighing on me like they should have all along. I don't claim to be all-knowing and I sure don't claim to be better than anyone else, but praise the Lord my faith and relationship with my Heavenly Father is growing and deepening to the point where I can no longer just side idly by and not speak my mind. To have a heart like Jesus is the desire of a Christian, and to love our fellow man like Jesus did is something I always wanted to feel, but perhaps due to my own self blocking or now allowing that to happen, I honestly never really felt a deep pain for the lost or the misinformed. Of course, I was sad and mostly angry when I heard someone speak against Christians or Jesus, and I always pray for the lost, but in the recent days something has changed within me. The Holy Spirit, reading my bible daily, and just maturing as a Christian are all a part of the change, I know, but the prompting to speak out...that is something I can't believe I'm doing. There will be people who disagree with me, think I'm wrong, and may choose to unfriend me from Facebook, and honestly, I am okay with that. Knowing that someone doesn't like me for any reason has always made me sad and it always will, but we can have different opinions and beliefs and still be friends. It happens every day. Some might even call that tolerance.
I read an article on Facebook yesterday about the ASU cross controversy. If you are reading this blog, you have Facebook and if you have Facebook, you know the story. The football team at ASU decided to wear crosses on their helmets in honor of two teammates that died in the recent past. This action was not taken to shun anyone or any religion. The wearing of the cross was not done to push an agenda by any group of Christians. It wasn't done in order to show favoritism to any religion. It wasn't done to offend any person, group, religion, race...It was done to honor their fallen teammates. The cross has always been a symbol of peace, love, compassion, caring, honor...never was it meant to condone, condemn, anger, alienate, separate...I am just at a loss for words that here in Arkansas this has been allowed to happen and has become such a national event. All because the small cross on the helmets of football players has offended someone. If it were a logo saying RIP, or in memory of, or perhaps a black wristband, or ANYthing other than a cross, this would not even be an issue. If it was the symbol to represent the Muslim faith, or the Atheist beliefs, this would not be an issue. I just can't wrap my tiny little brain around this. I also can't help but continue thinking about it.
I read the article in its entirety and then moved to the comments of hundreds of Facebook users. The sadness I felt came when I scrolled through tens, if not hundreds, of people who were in support of the removal of the cross. Oh how I struggled to make sense of why the symbol of the cross brought such anger, such opposition, such negativity. Yes, there were those who supported the cross and the players for wanting to express their feelings and I was thankful for those who spoke out and weren't afraid to make their feelings known. We live in a country where freedom of speech still reigns, maybe not for much longer, but for now, it still does. Each person who expressed their anger and opposition had as much a right to do so as those who were on the other side and I have no bone to pick with them about that. However, it just broke my heart to read the words that were aimed at Jesus and Christianity. I, without any doubt whatsoever, believe that Jesus is the son of God and that he came to Earth in the form of Man, yet was still God, and that He carried the sins of ALL on that cross and that He suffered and died a horrible death, and that on that third day He AROSE FROM THE GRAVE...I believe by FAITH that God's Holy word is true, each and every word. I believe that those without Jesus as their savior will go to Hell when they die. But, they don't have to! I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). It is my prayer, my fervent prayer, that those who have denied Jesus, those who have decided they don't need Jesus, those who think it's weak to need a savior, that they will SOON come to realize that without Him, there is no hope. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess...please don't let that be when you decide the time is right, because at that point it will be too late.
I read an article on Facebook yesterday about the ASU cross controversy. If you are reading this blog, you have Facebook and if you have Facebook, you know the story. The football team at ASU decided to wear crosses on their helmets in honor of two teammates that died in the recent past. This action was not taken to shun anyone or any religion. The wearing of the cross was not done to push an agenda by any group of Christians. It wasn't done in order to show favoritism to any religion. It wasn't done to offend any person, group, religion, race...It was done to honor their fallen teammates. The cross has always been a symbol of peace, love, compassion, caring, honor...never was it meant to condone, condemn, anger, alienate, separate...I am just at a loss for words that here in Arkansas this has been allowed to happen and has become such a national event. All because the small cross on the helmets of football players has offended someone. If it were a logo saying RIP, or in memory of, or perhaps a black wristband, or ANYthing other than a cross, this would not even be an issue. If it was the symbol to represent the Muslim faith, or the Atheist beliefs, this would not be an issue. I just can't wrap my tiny little brain around this. I also can't help but continue thinking about it.
I read the article in its entirety and then moved to the comments of hundreds of Facebook users. The sadness I felt came when I scrolled through tens, if not hundreds, of people who were in support of the removal of the cross. Oh how I struggled to make sense of why the symbol of the cross brought such anger, such opposition, such negativity. Yes, there were those who supported the cross and the players for wanting to express their feelings and I was thankful for those who spoke out and weren't afraid to make their feelings known. We live in a country where freedom of speech still reigns, maybe not for much longer, but for now, it still does. Each person who expressed their anger and opposition had as much a right to do so as those who were on the other side and I have no bone to pick with them about that. However, it just broke my heart to read the words that were aimed at Jesus and Christianity. I, without any doubt whatsoever, believe that Jesus is the son of God and that he came to Earth in the form of Man, yet was still God, and that He carried the sins of ALL on that cross and that He suffered and died a horrible death, and that on that third day He AROSE FROM THE GRAVE...I believe by FAITH that God's Holy word is true, each and every word. I believe that those without Jesus as their savior will go to Hell when they die. But, they don't have to! I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). It is my prayer, my fervent prayer, that those who have denied Jesus, those who have decided they don't need Jesus, those who think it's weak to need a savior, that they will SOON come to realize that without Him, there is no hope. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess...please don't let that be when you decide the time is right, because at that point it will be too late.
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