Looking to the Cross

It is no news that many people, including some Christians, are discouraged and seeking answers amid the Covid-19 global pandemic. As some look to political leaders, medical professionals, and scientists to provide answers, some have resigned to their fate, evidenced by the revolt to imposed stay-at-home orders. Like the Psalmist (Psa 10:1 KJV), most Christians cry out to God, "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?"

As we all know, stay-at-home orders have meant that religious groups, including Churches, are restricted from gathering to allow Christians to worship together and fellowship with one another. If you profess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then know that the absence of fellowship does not mean the absence of the presence of the Most High God wherever you may be. The name of our Lord and Savior, Immanuel, means "God with us" and that should give us solace that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In Isaiah 57:15 (KJV), we also read, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." If God is with us, then we can look to Him for answers.

On the morning of April 26, 2020, which was a Sunday, I had a sense of urgency to write about the Bronze Serpent written in Numbers 21, and that is what I would like to share with you today. Now, the word of God clearly states that every matter shall be established by two or more witnesses, so, when I felt the urgency to write about the Bronze Serpent, I asked God to give me a confirmation. My usual routine for Sunday mornings, before and during this pandemic, includes listening to Pastor Joel Osteen's Sunday message on television. However, I was in the kitchen preparing soup for our traditional Sunday dinner, so I asked Alexa to play the latest message from Pastor Osteen's podcast on our Amazon Echo. This particular message from Pastor Osteen was titled "You Have The Cure." While his sermon did not focus on the Bronze Serpent, Pastor Osteen referenced it in his message, and I knew I had my confirmation. Right away, I began my study of Numbers 21:4-9, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me.

Let's begin by delving into the scripture from Numbers 21:4-9.

"(4) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. (5) And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. (6) And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (7) Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. (8) And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (9) And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Numbers 21:4-9 KJV  

Time and again, the Israelites faced adversity in their journey to the promised land, mostly due to their disobedience. But at the core of these experiences was the goal to strengthen their faith in God's ability to protect and provide for them. It is essential to recognize that these experiences of the children of God in the old testament held vital lessons for those of us who would later become God's children. For every Christian, trust and faith in our God are necessary ingredients in overcoming adversity. Critically important is obedience to God. You cannot claim to be a Christian if you live in disobedience to God's word.

As human beings, we cannot deny the fact that our common destiny is physical death. While grappling with the rise in the global death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic is difficult for the mind to grasp, what is more disheartening is spiritual death from the "sin virus," which many hardly give thought to. Figuratively, the scenario witnessed in Numbers 21:4-9 illustrated what was to be our salvation from eternal damnation, which results in spiritual death. In John 3:14-15, we read Jesus's words in reference to the bronze serpent:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14-15 KJV

If you are reading this and you have not given your life to Christ, I would like to encourage you to ask Jesus to come into your heart. Everyone needs to examine their hearts and repent of every sin and look up to the Cross for it is by doing so that you can keep your soul alive (the reader can also refer to Psalm 22:29). As Christians, the Cross symbolizes our faith and salvation. Our purposeful life here on earth, as well as in eternity, depends immensely on looking to the Cross! As I was writing this, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the hymn by Fanny Crosby, 1869. The first stanza and refrain are below:

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain. 

Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

On the Cross, Jesus Christ completed the atonement for our sins and deliverance from captivity from the enemy when he said, "it is finished" (John 19:30). "It is finished" means the power of the enemy over our lives is broken when we look to the Cross.

You have a choice in this pandemic, either to constantly feed your curiosity with every bit of information being churned out by the media, or instead boost your faith in God by feeding on the lessons from God's word about dealing with adversity. There is a reason God has allowed this pandemic, and there is no question about His authority over this situation. Beloved, I would encourage you to choose to stir up your faith in God and cast aside all fears and anxiety. Pray and trust in God's faithfulness to bring us out of every adversity. With your obedience to God, trust, and faith in God's power as you look to the Cross, you have nothing to be afraid of amid adversity. If you are reading this, then I believe this message is for you, and God is saying to you right now, "look up to me."

Stay blessed always!!!