"Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death. Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his Burden. He looked therefore, and continued to look, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
It is quite obvious that Christian is very emotional as he gazes at the Cross. He realizes all that was done for him by Christ. In 2004 The Passion of the Christ came to theaters. It brought in $367 million and is one of the largest watched movies of all-time. It is a story that covers the last hours of Jesus on Earth. The movie is extremely graphic and many people became sick and cried openly. Yet there was no great awakening. Many were moved, but few were changed.
Today, in our churches are many that are fond of the form of Christ that is preached, yet they know that they have not been regenerated. They have been shown the cross, but they have not embraced it. They live in a Christian nation, attend a Christian church, yet are not following Christ.
These people know a lot about Christianity, especially how to act. They have become good actors. They say the right words, sing the right songs, read the right books, but their unseen hearts would betray them.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." II Timothy 3: 1-5
It is quite obvious that Christian is very emotional as he gazes at the Cross. He realizes all that was done for him by Christ. In 2004 The Passion of the Christ came to theaters. It brought in $367 million and is one of the largest watched movies of all-time. It is a story that covers the last hours of Jesus on Earth. The movie is extremely graphic and many people became sick and cried openly. Yet there was no great awakening. Many were moved, but few were changed.
Today, in our churches are many that are fond of the form of Christ that is preached, yet they know that they have not been regenerated. They have been shown the cross, but they have not embraced it. They live in a Christian nation, attend a Christian church, yet are not following Christ.
These people know a lot about Christianity, especially how to act. They have become good actors. They say the right words, sing the right songs, read the right books, but their unseen hearts would betray them.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." II Timothy 3: 1-5
Are you such a person? Plead to Christ to give you a desire to be set free. Throw yourself upon the Cross, the instrument of death. Say along with Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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