Give the cross some skin

 1April2008

 

Give the Cross some skin

 

 

A while back the Lord instructed me to remove the cross that I wore from around my neck. I almost rebuked satan, but came to revelation instead. We tend to use the Cross as the Pharisees did the frontlets or phylacteries. We use it as if to say that we are Christian or in a state as to ward off evil in a superstitious mode. Fact is as the Lord relayed this message to me, we have become no different than the first century Pharisees. I was awe struct as the Lord ministered this but yet it all made sense. We want to be known that we are Christian, and so we buy the prettiest gold ,silver or form of art work of man to have this represent what we think we are. The Lord says that if we would allow Him to circumcise the callousness of the fleshy heart, and make the Cross of Christ effectual there in, then we would truly have an object of worship with in, not of ourselves but of He that can form us into the likeness of Himself with God righteousness and not self-righteousness. Gods words and symbols are meant to be laid up in our hearts and souls, where their meanings will never be forgotten, but ever be before us. But we have literally made a gold cross an object of worship outwardly while the inward spiritual experience lies dormant and without power. With the spiritual need being neglected, God’s word loses its proper place in the hearts of man. Frontlets they are, phylacteries and amulets to attract attention to ourselves, that only other people see as they are before their eyes and not the eyes of the wearer as their manner of life and conversation has not changed. Where is the power of a cross around a neck? I have not found it, but the cross that has been formed in my heart serves to remind me to do the will of God in my life. Crucified with Him, the old sin nature nailed to the cross with my sins, dead, and should a temptation come along and revive that dead man, the pain of removing the nails reminds me to stay dead, and spiritually alive with He who has redeemed me. After the Lords ministering, I saw the contrast of ignorantly displaying the art work of man, as to displaying the true divine nature of the One who dwells with in, and letting that manifest itself outwardly. The cross I wear in my heart has power in contrast to the one around my neck. This is where the true child of God reflects the image of their Maker. Contrasting again, the display of gold tends to have an I—it relationship, but with the personal deitized relationship it is an I---Thee relationship again with power and something to marvel at. No wonder the most sinful person can drag the gold cross through the muck and mire of sin and not be brought to a place of remembrance or power, for when the Lord places it in your heart, one finds it hard to drag it back in the mud, as it was tattooed on the receivers heart by an in corruptible means. Now it can be personalized and with power, showing outwardly the image of the Almighty God, who has now begat us with His Spirit and word of truth. My God! What a brilliance.