From a hill just outside Jerusalem twenty centuries ago, where a crowd of men, women, and children watched an unusual man die in agony, the impact and passion of those few astonishing hours are as real and controversial today as they were back then.
The same hatred and opposition
displayed by the antagonists all those centuries ago has grown around the whole world, showing
itself in the escalation of violence and prejudice, cynicism, mocking, discrimination, and
aggression.
But it is nothing. For the name of Jesus is exalted throughout the whole earth and loved by millions.
Governments and false
religions cannot extinguish his name nor destroy the power that flows from that
cross and from the blood that Jesus shed. The imprint of history, stamped into
the very fabric of society and the advancement of time, declares most clearly
that the lifting up of Jesus Christ on that cross still draws all men in every
era back to Calvary, back to the judgment of this world.
It is still the unmoveable landmark, the
centre-point, the wall of destiny for every soul that has ever lived or is still
alive today. It is still the testing ground, the immovable mountain of truth,
the impregnable Rock of Ages that stands forever in the face of every
unbelieving enemy and mocking adversary of the truth.
It states clearly and unreservedly that Jesus is
Lord and God of the entire universe, and that all who refuse him will perish in
the Lake of Fire (Revelation
20:15); but all who place their trust in him will live
forever.
This testimony, which has never changed neither diminished in any way, is in itself the undeniable evidence that has stood the test of time. Over seven hundred and thirty thousand days later, the whole world is still drawn to the cross and the ultimate challenge to accept or refuse God’s offer of mercy and eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
‘Should not perish’! Ah, now there is a phrase that
people do not like to consider. However, here is the evident conclusion of the
judgment that we have been looking at. It all comes down to ‘he that believes’,
and ‘he that does not believe’.
He or she that believes shall be saved, and he or she that does not believe on the Son of God is already condemned by their unbelief. Upon this the judgment rests. You are either a friend of God through faith in Jesus Christ, or an enemy through unbelief.
And this
is the record (the spoken and written summing up), that God has given to us
eternal life, and this life is in Christ Jesus. He that has the Son of God has
life; and he that does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1John 11-12)
The verdict has been given. Heaven has judged. We
each stand or fall at this summing up of the matter.
(Extract from my book, 'What really happened at the Cross?' - volume 2)
