Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

"You Smell Good"

For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

Ah, the orchid. Beautiful. Fragile. Fragrant. Stinky.

That’s right, stinky. There are 30,000 species of orchids in the world and few are more rare than the Yosemite bog-orchid. The plant is only found in nine places of the world, all of which are in Yosemite Park between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. According to a recent Associated Press article, there is one other thing that makes the Yosemite bog-orchid unique: it stinks. The botanist who is credited with discovering the uncommon flower said that it smells like “a horse-corral on a hot afternoon.”

In fact, it was not the beauty of the flower, but the smell of sweaty feet that drew her to the plant.

Now, I know that this piece of news will fill the thousands of readers of this devotion with an overwhelming desire to rush right out and see this rarity of creation. This may lead you to ask, “Exactly where can we find the Yosemite bog-orchid?” I’m not going to tell you.

I’m not going to tell you because I can’t. I can’t tell you because the people who discovered the orchid aren’t telling me. They’re keeping the bog orchid’s whereabouts a secret.

This protective attitude is based on the belief that orchid lovers might love the discovery to death. As one park ranger said, “There's concern that it will get trampled. It's a rare and precious resource that we want to protect.”

This “keep-it-to-yourself” attitude is quite different than that of the disciples who, by the Spirit’s power, had been brought to faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They knew that in Jesus’ empty tomb, they had a site that was unlike any other on earth. Rather than keeping the story of Jesus’ resurrection secret, the disciples shared the salvation message with anyone who would listen. In fact, when the Jewish Sanhedrin told them to keep the news of Jesus’ resurrection to themselves they said, “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Their sharing attitude is an example that healthy Christianity has followed for 20 centuries. Christ’s command and our desire to share God’s good-news-gift of a risen Savior compel us to invite everyone to take a look at the place where salvation became reality.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Gifts"

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Antonio was an Italian boy who loved music. Whenever he tried to sing, it came out so badly his friends laughed. Next to singing, the boy loved the violin. Antonio learned that the greatest violinmaker in all Italy, lived in his village! Conscientiously, Antonio worked many days, whittling a violin. When finished, the boy gave the master his small violin and said, "Sir, I love music, but I cannot sing. I wish to make violins." The master smiled, looked at the small gift and said, "Beautiful! You want to make violins? And so you shall! In time, your violins will make the most beautiful music ever heard!" And so it was for Antonio Stradivari.

Now, I could go two ways with that story. I could tell you that God loves you and has given you gifts that can be used to glorify Him and make life better for those around you. That would be true. I would rather speak to those readers who are discouraged with their day-to-day existence. It may, indeed, be that life has shut some doors for you, as it did for Antonio. If that is true, then I urge you not to give up. It has been my experience that when life closes one door, the Lord opens another. Antonio discovered that. Make his discovery your own. You may be surprised that the Master can use you to make beautiful music that everyone around you can appreciate.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Save Me"

“Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” John 12:27-28

Two blind men moved down the boulevard. One groped along, his face twisted in dread, hand outstretched in wild motions of search, feet shuffling, and white cane tapping in wild exploration. The other man strode along, his white cane tapping lightly before him as he went. His head was held high.

One walker and one groper. It is true, the walker may stumble and get bruised. He may carry a scar from having bumped into a table a day or so ago; he may do so again. But he will keep on going. If he trips on a broken sidewalk, he will stand up and continue. But the groper, afraid of the unknown, with so many questions and reservations, will not move far. He can, at best, only shuffle along. For both of them, the darkness is alike. Neither can see what lies ahead. But the difference in the lives they lead . . . oh, what a difference.

All of us in this world, believers and unbelievers alike, are blind. None of us knows what is in front of us or what tomorrow will bring. But some of us, with Jesus as our Savior, are able to live life rather than just endure it. Christians are not given the ability to know the future, but they do know their Lord is in control. They know God, who loves them so much He was willing to sacrifice His Son, is not going to desert them. They worship a Lord who is not going to change His mind and one morning, without warning, decide to make their existence miserable.

Christians, unlike the rest of the world, know they are in the hands of a loving Father. True, they may not always understand why He allows things to happen to them; they may not always be able to figure out where He is leading them; but they know His hand is a loving hand.

Because Christians have a Savior who gave His all so they might have all, they know that when they are afraid, His arms are the place to which they can run. When things seem dark and dreary, Jesus’ presence is what they seek so they might have a new light for their path. When they are sad, He may not always take away the reason for the sadness, but they are sure He will comfort them by helping them carry their pain. The knowledge that “God is love” makes all the difference in how Christians walk into their unknown tomorrows.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Productive Pain"

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Romans 5:3

In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell sent his assistant to Europe. The mission was critical to the country and the assistant found he was unable to rest. His predicament was made doubly unbearable by the fact that his servant at the foot of the bed was able to sleep most soundly.

In frustration the master woke the servant. He explained, “I need someone to talk to. I am afraid things will go wrong.” The servant requested permission to ask some questions. His first question was, “Master, did God rule the world before we were born?” The master allowed that was true. “And will God rule the universe after we’re dead?” “Most assuredly,” was the reply. “Then,” concluded the servant, “why not let Him rule your present as well?”

Most of us can remember those times when we, like that ambassador, have felt deserted. Almost all of us can recall days where the sun never seemed to shine, when we felt we could walk away from life and no one would notice. Some of us may have felt, and a few may still feel, that we could end our life and no one would care. All of God’s heroes and saints understand how you feel. They knew, as we should know, that because we are sinners, sorrow, suffering, and death will continue to be part of our lives. They fully realized that Jesus had never promised His followers the ability to avoid the crosses of life. On the contrary, He said those who would follow Him would have to take up those crosses and follow Him. Sounds depressing, doesn’t it?

Well, there is also good news. Writing to the church in Corinth, as well as to you and me, Saint Paul said that Christians would by the power of the Holy Spirit be able to persevere in our problems. Having the ever-living Savior by our side means that no matter how sorry our situation, no matter how deep our depression, no matter how lacking in love our life is, God has not deserted us. He has not stopped loving us. The life of Jesus was the commitment God made so you would never be alone, so you could have help today and a positive, powerful hope for all your tomorrows. The conquering Christ has defeated the devil and death. As the servant said, "Why not let the Savior rule your present, as well?"

[Soldier4Christ]

"No Man Knows"

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

This past week CNN.com ran a story about Oscar, a cat in Providence, Rhode Island, who seems to have the ability to predict death. The 2-year-old feline makes the rounds on the third floor of the Steer House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. While not normally a friendly feline, Oscar appears to have predicted a person’s death in twenty-five confirmed cases by curling up next to that individual.

Without exception, the patient has passed away in the next four hours.

Now, if that sounds overly morbid it needs to be stated that most of Oscar’s patients are so ill they don’t notice his deathly visit. On the other hand, the nursing home appreciates Oscar for giving them the time to notify the patient’s family and give them the chance to say ‘goodbye’ to their loved ones.

Personally, I have not formed an opinion on whether I want a cat to serve as my exit-from-this-world countdown clock. On the other hand, I do know I want the Savior by my side. Scripture tells us that death is an enemy who haunts humanity, stalking us throughout our lives. Death rips apart families. It takes our children. It creeps up on us and steals away spouses and best friends.

Death can come without any advance notice, or it can lay down by our side with its presence heralded by a cat named “Oscar.”

Now, there may well be those who appreciate the services of an Oscar. There may be those who enjoy being given time to get their affairs in order. There may even be those who want Oscar to give them enough warning to mend some fences and make some apologies before the end.

But here’s the point and the problem: death is not the end. Death is only the portal that leads everyone to his or her final judgment. And because we are serious sinners, without Christ the result of that judgment was not going to be pleasant. In order that the end, which comes after our earthly end, might be different, God sent His Son into this world to live and die for us.

All of which is my way of saying that when death comes around, I’d far rather prefer to have the Savior by my side than Oscar. I pray you agree.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Inerrant"

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My wife, Pamela, is almost fearless.

I use the word almost because thirty-seven years of marriage has revealed one thing that frightens her. Pam doesn’t like to drive across big bridges, the kind of bridges that span large rivers like the Ohio and the Mississippi.

She has a number of rules when she drives across those big bridges. First, she wants to be in the middle lane. Second, she doesn’t want any big trucks along side her. Finally, she doesn’t want to be following a motorcycle.

Naturally, as a man, I have tried to talk her out of such foolishness. For years, I’ve been telling her, “Don’t be silly. These bridges are inspected. They’re safe. You don’t have to worry.” Last week, when we learned of the collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis, she turned to me, and with an “I-told-you-so-look” said, “See, I was right.”

The truth is that the collapse of this one bridge will cause many people to doubt the reliability and trustworthiness of all bridges. It may not be logical, but that’s the way we humans are made. Either we can believe someone, or we can’t. Either we trust something, or we don’t.

This takes this devotion to the subject of God’s Word. Today, it’s fashionable for sophisticated pseudo-scholars to dissect, divide, and dismember the Bible. They gleefully gloat as they strip, shred and slice up Holy Scripture. They say it doesn’t make any difference if the Bible has as many holes as a piece of Swiss cheese.

But it does matter. Listening to the folks who have denied this and debunked that, many end up saying, “If I can’t believe what the Bible says here; why should I believe what it says there?”

This is why I rejoice that the Lord tells us we can believe the Bible both “here” and “there.”

Paul told Timothy that our perfect God has inspired all Scripture to be written. Because it is a perfect book that comes from the perfect God, it is profitable for learning about the Lord’s law as well as His love, grace, and salvation.

The writer of the book of Proverbs said it a little differently (3:5) when he wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” It’s good advice, especially when a person is driving across the bridges of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Evil Hearts"

Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Ecclesiastes 9:3b

The fact that you are reading this devotion says you have a computer.

If you have a computer, you already know what a wonderful piece of electronic wizardry it is. You know how it can gather information, process facts, and allow you to contact thousands of people with a few keystrokes. You also know that it will break down at the most inopportune time. (Insert your own horror story here.)

Knowing all the things that can go wrong with a computer, I was amazed when the Associated Press carried a story about computer sabotage. It seems a computer destined for the International Space Station had been tampered with. That’s right, a worker at a NASA subcontractor that made the machine had, very deliberately, cut some of the wires.

Since reading that story, I’ve tried to figure out, “Why?” Why would a person do such a thing? Why would he endanger the life of an individual he’d never met? Was this some sick way of trying to make himself famous? Is this some way of getting back at his company, or his boss? Is he upset because his parents didn’t buy him a computer for Christmas? I would imagine hundreds of answers might be given to the question, “Why?”

Cutting to the bottom line, the Bible gives God’s answer. It says, ‘the hearts of the children of men are full of evil and madness is in their hearts.’ We do bad stuff because we’ve got bad stuff inside of us. It’s not a pretty thought, but it’s true. Even the best and most gentle of us still have a sinful core. Even the most loving among us has an evil center that will stay with us until we die. We may not sabotage Space Station computers, but it’s guaranteed that we’re going to mess with something, or someone, else.

This is precisely why we need a Savior. We need a perfect Savior who doesn’t have our sinful centers. We need a Savior who hasn’t been conceived in corruption. We need a Savior who is true man and true God. And where can we find such a Savior? We can come into contact with Him in a Bethlehem stable. We can see Him reaching out to lepers, publicans, and prostitutes. We can hear Him bringing healing to the hurting and hope to those who mourn. The one place we won’t see Him is at His grave.

A risen Lord Jesus has come to seek and save the lost, and to replace the corruption of human hearts with the completeness of God’s grace. And “why” would God do such a thing? I don’t know, but I’m glad He did.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Confidence"

In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:26

Flying as much as I do, I’ve had the opportunity to watch people at the airport. They are divided into two groups: those who have tickets and those who don’t and are flying “standby”. There is quite a difference. People with tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends, or sleep. Folks on standby hang around the ticket counter, pacing and looking worried. The difference can be summed up in one word: confidence. Perhaps you have seen the same difference when you applied for a driver’s license. Without knowing, you could see those who knew the material and those who were unprepared.

Confidence is important. Not just when you’re traveling on an airplane, but it’s also important as you travel through life. If you knew that you had only a few hours, days, or months to live, would you be confident about what the after life has in store for you?

If you, or someone you know, doesn’t have the confidence which comes from being a forgiven sinner and knowing that heaven is your eternal home, then today would be a good time to meet Jesus. His sacrifice for you can give you the confidence to know your final trip is guaranteed.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Shocking"

But Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48

Have you ever watched a young child come home after a visit to the hospital? Have you ever paid attention to see what a little one does when they are brought home from vacation? Most will run around the house, jump on their bed, and grab one toy after another, greeting each of his playthings as if it were a long, lost friend, which of course, they are.

All of that is a child’s way of saying, “Home is a safe place for me.” Every child needs safe places, and every parent has, as part of their job description, the making of such safe places.

This is why an article last week from United Press International was so very shocking. It told of how five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor have been released from life imprisonment in Libya and allowed to return home. They had been charged and convicted of deliberately infecting 430 hospitalized children with HIV. Although the ex-condemned have said the problems were caused by poor hygienic conditions, the end result is 50 of those infected children have now died of AIDS.

No matter whose story you believe, the shocking truth is this: people who had been entrusted with the healing of children and providing a safe place for them failed to do so.

Their story reminds me so much of the shocking story of how Judas betrayed His Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane. Now, if you’re asking how I connected those two stories, I’d be glad to give an answer.

Think about it. On Maundy Thursday, Judas should have protected Jesus from His enemies. Judas should have been in the Garden praying with Jesus rather than selling Him out. Judas should have provided a safe place for His Lord. Instead, he chose to betray the Savior with a kiss. It was a kiss that took Jesus to trial and eventually to His cross.

In both stories, those who should have helped chose to hurt.

May the same never be said about us and our witness to the Savior. We, the ones for whom He lived and died, the ones who know of His great sacrifice, the ones who have been assured of eternal life by the Christ’s victorious resurrection, have been entrusted with the sharing of the Savior’s story.

Now, at the end of this devotion, it is my prayer that we may never do anything to let the Savior down. May we make the most of every opportunity to share the Savior’s story of salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Straw"

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Expressions fascinate me. I always wonder where they come from, and who thought of them. Who, for example, was the first person who talked about the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back?’ Did anybody experiment? Why did they use straw, not bricks?

Apparently, I’m not the only one that has asked those kind of questions. Recently, I came across a treatise about one-humped camels. That report concluded with the much-needed information that camels can generally carry from 240 up to 1,200 pounds. Of course, it admits, only "the very best animals" can manage the bigger amount. And, in case you are wondering, record for camel capacity, in Australia, is 1,904 pounds. Even so, no camels’ backs were broken.

This is all my way of getting to the point where I can ask, “How many straws does it take to break your back?” How many times have you found yourself ready to explode, to walk away, to throw in the towel (that’s another expression)? Do you frequently feel that the straws which life, family, and obligations are throwing upon you are simply too heavy for you to carry?

If you nod in understanding, I would like to introduce you to the Lord Jesus. He has said that we can cast all of our cares, another word for straw, upon Him. For those who know Him as Savior, He promises an unlimited amount of strength and support in living and carrying straw.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Just A Woodpecker"

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21

My next-door neighbor has a cabin. In March, he awoke to a great racket on his roof. In his pajamas, he staggered into the back yard to find a woodpecker on the TV antenna. Relentlessly, the bird was pounding its little brains out on the metal pole. Angry at the bird for disturbing his sleep, the man picked up a rock and threw it. The rock sailed over the house, hit his car and broke his windshield. In utter frustration, the man took a vicious kick at a clod of dirt, only to remember -- too late -- that he was still in his bare feet.

When he told me that story, I had to fight back a smile. That is not always my reaction when I hear about people who lose their tempers. Have you noticed that the world seems to be filled with people who are always walking around angry and upset? The smallest problem triggers a response way out of proportion.

I would not presume to say that the Lord Jesus can take away everyone’s rage, but I do know a lot of people who have found, in Christ, a peace that passes human understanding. When an individual shares his cares and burdens with the Lord, they are easier to bear, and harder to maintain.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Eagerness"

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

A few short weeks ago, there was a story that dominated every news agency in the western world. Do you remember it?

It was a story of secret meetings in darkened rooms and clandestine operations. It was a story filled with villains who had no greater desire than to make miserable the lives of millions.

Do you remember the story that had the entire world holding its breath? No, it’s not a story of terrorists who were captured with a “dirty” bomb, nor is it the story of how officers broke up a drug cartel. The story to which I refer is nothing less than the publication of the final book in the Harry Potter series.

It is only now that the hero-stories of those days are starting to be told. High on this list of bravery and selfless dedication is Richard Yates, a postman who works out of the Evesham sorting office in Worcestershire, Britain.

According to the reports, on the day the last book was to be delivered, Mr. Yates reported to his post office. Rather than being given the books and his mail, he was told that rain had flooded out the roads and all deliveries in his region had been canceled.

Yates was shocked. He knew how disappointed his own daughter would be if her book were not to be delivered. So as not to disappoint children, Yates hopped in his four-wheel drive vehicle and delivered the pre-ordered Harry Potter books to all the people in his village.

The appearance of Yates with a big grin and the Harry Potter book clutched in his hands was an unexpected joy to the people who had resigned themselves to waiting for their copy until the flood waters receded.

This makes me wonder:

    * What would have happened if the “book” in question had been a Bible rather than Harry Potter?
    * Would Mr. Yates have been equally committed to making sure the Bible got into the right hands?
    * Would people have been disappointed if their copies of God’s Word weren’t delivered on the day it was expected?


Most of all I wondered, “How committed am I to getting the suffering Savior’s story of salvation into the hands who need His message the most?”

[Soldier4Christ]

"How About You?"

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29

One afternoon a little boy decided he would help his father. He had heard his dad say that the car was “low on gas.” Well, this little boy knew how to fill the tank. He knew it wasn’t all that complicated. After all, he had watched his father do it a hundred times. With confidence, the boy removed the gas cap, got the garden hose—it was just like the hose at the pump—and squeezed the hose nozzle. (It, too, looked like the nozzle at the gasoline station.) Then he proceeded to fill the gas tank with water.

With a smile, he waited for his dad to start the car—to see the gauge that now read “Full,” to thank him for his kindly efforts. You know what happened. Dad tried to start the car. It sputtered and died. And Dad didn’t say “thank you.”

As I look at the world, I see a great many people making the same mistake the boy made. The greatest difference is that these people are making a spiritual mistake rather than a physical one. Like the little boy, they start out trying to do the right thing. For these spiritual searchers, the right thing is trying to find a god. Also like our little boy, these folks attempt to do something that looks good and feels right. In their search to be at peace with their god, they are ready to make any sacrifice they think will get his attention. They are ready to try as hard as they can to please him.

Finally, like that boy, these folks have made a major miscalculation. They will eventually discover that the best of intentions and the greatest sincerity can never turn water into gasoline. No matter how much you believe, water is never going to power your car and loyalty to a false god will never save you. On Judgment Day, those folks who have worked so hard to please their false god and who expect to hear a “thank you” will be disappointed.

For 2,000 years the word has gone out: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [other than that of Jesus] … by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). For over 75 years, The Lutheran Hour has been bringing Christ to the nations—and the nations to the church. It is our prayer that the Holy Spirit will touch the story of your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Words"

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me…” Isaiah 29:13

What is your reaction to these two sentences?

1. One more baby means one more tomb.
2. Raise fewer babies but more piggies.

Most reasonable people would say those “sound bytes” are crude and tasteless. If that is what you think, the Chinese government would agree with you. According to a report from the Associated Press, the national leaders of the most populous country on earth have banned these boorish statements from being used in their “one-child” family planning program.
That’s a step in the right direction, I guess.

If I seem less than enthusiastic about this decision, it is because the step they’re taking is cosmetic. According to critics, China will continue to force abortions, sterilizations, and fines upon those who are in violation of their policies. And if you’ve ever thought your taxes were bad those who break the “one-child” rule can be fined $1,300, and this where the annual income is $130. (And, if you don’t pay your fine in three days, your home is demolished and your belongings are seized.)

The Lord might have been talking about the Chinese government when He inspired Isaiah to write about people whose tongues say the right thing, but whose hearts are far from the Lord. While it is a good thing for the Chinese to change the sound of their slogans, it would be far better if they changed their policies toward their people and the unborn. It would be best if the country’s words and actions were in harmony.

That’s something we as Christians need to remember. The Lord has told us we can’t say, “I love God” on Sunday and live a life of disobedience the rest of the week. We can’t say the prayers, sing the hymns, read the words and then have our actions show to everyone around us that those Christian words are only words.

In short, the words and actions of Christians ought to be in harmony.

We who have seen the great love of the Savior, watched His suffering and innocent death upon the cross, and are saved by His glorious resurrection should try to honor and thank Him with our words and our actions. As some of my friends say, ‘The Christ is glorified when His people walk the walk AND talk the talk of praise.” When we do that, our witness to the wonders of God’s great love is shown to be alive and real.

[Soldier4Christ]

"A Banner"

You have set up a banner for those who fear you. Psalm 60:4a

There may be two sides to every story, but I have to admit, I’m kind of on Dan Towbin’s side. According to a story filed last week by the Associated Press, Dan Towbin is man who likes the American flag. Dan is the owner of an automobile dealership who recently received permission from his local city council to put up a 100-foot flag pole.

On that 100-foot flag pole, Dan is flying a 30x60 foot American flag. (That is roughly the size of a competition volleyball court.)

Dan’s patriotism has not been without its critics. Officials in Dan’s town have now decided the flagpole is too high. Other folks in the neighborhood of the dealership say the flag’s flapping is too loud, and still others have said that Dan is using the flag as an advertising tool.

In answer to all of those who are finding fault with his flag Dan has replied, “The American flag stays. . .we never sold a vehicle based on a flag.”

As of this writing, the battle for the flying of the flapping flag continues to be fought. It’s anyone’s guess how that battle will turn out. As for me, armed with the facts which I’ve been given, I’m cheering for Dan. Although he may never have read Psalm 60:4a, Dan understands this: if you’re going to have a banner, you need to set it up in a place where people can see it. If you’re going to have a banner, you need to place it in a location where people can be brought to it, and where they can rally around it.

Those are the purposes of a banner.

Those are also the purposes of the cross of Christ.

Two-thousand years ago God allowed His banner of salvation to be set upon the skull-shaped hill of Calvary. On the cross of Calvary, the Lord’s innocent Son gave His life as a ransom for guilty humankind. From then until the end of time, the cross of Calvary will continue to be the single banner that needs to be seen by sinners. By God’s grace, it will always be the banner of forgiveness for all who are convicted of their transgression. It will remain as the only banner that can rally the lost and give them eternal life.

The cross is God’s banner which every Christian is privileged to lift up so all may know ‘God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have everlasting life.’