Randy's Blog

Jesus said that if we want to be his disciples, we must be born again, take up our Crosses, and follow him. but I don't believe that's what Jesus meant when he said to take up OUR literal Crosses, and follow him.  So, what did Jesus mean when he said we must take up our Crosses and follow him?  I believe Jesus' reference to the Cross had a much deeper meaning that some may not recognize. I believe Jesus' reference to the Cross is a metaphor used by Jesus to illustrate our human trials and tribulations, to equate them with trials and tribulations that can sometimes seem to us to be as difficult as torture, ridicule, and humiliation upon the Cross, both emotionally and physically.  These days, the literal Cross isn't generally something we would have to deal with, but there are some terrible trials in life that challenge our ability to endure them. Keep in mind that nothing happens to us unless it is authorized by God.   Refer to Luke, Chapter 22, which says that ...

God judges sin, even as we live in the physical world, as well as after we pass from our physical existence. For 4,000+ years the message has been the same.   For 4000+ years the message of the Christian Bible has been focused upon the coming of Jesus Christ as the savior of the world through the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies coming true, prophecies that can not be explained except by divine intervention.  The track record of prophecies fulfilled suggests that prophecies yet unfulfilled are most assuredly coming true in the future, according to God's timeline. Jesus Christ said that in order to have everlasting life, we must demonstrate our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, whose sacrifice upon the cross cloaks our sin, making us righteous according to God's standards.  We may think we're good people, and perhaps we are, according to man's standards, but not according to God's standards.  That is a most profound distinction that must be recognized before...