Wrong side of the Cross!

      Are you on this side of the cross looking backward, or still on the other side of the cross looking forward.  On this side of the cross we can say with Jesus,  "it is finished".  On the other side we can only say "I hope it is finished".   It isn't hard to see which side of the cross people are grounded.  Let a natural emergency happen, such as the Haiti earthquake,  the sunami of a few years ago, or hurricane Katrina and there they are, leaders declaring God did it to punish people.  Some even said the crazy Muslims flew into the trade center because God was angry with America.   Wrong side of the cross, folks!  Wrong side.     That same mentality creeps into pulpits all the time, preachers declaring,  "God is gonna git ya",  for this or that sin or weakness.  No - He already has you.  Without Christ, you are already going to "hell". What worse thing could He do?  It is a settled issue and settled in Christ alone.  With Christ, heaven is yours.  Without Him, hell is yours.

    There is a key word in the New Testament.  It is "propitiation".  It is an act whereby anger is turned to mercy.  That is what the blood of Jesus did for Almighty God.  It satisfied, forever and for all,  His demand for penalty of sin and turned His heart to mercy.  It is our redemption.  It is our justification.  Justification means that while we were still sinners, a sufficient price being paid by another, God extended His love toward us.  He is no longer angry. The power of the blood is still the power that speaks, in heaven, better things than the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24).    Court has been held, judgment has been passed, sentence handed out.  Jesus bore it all.  All of God's anger, wrathful judgment - Jesus bore it all.  Now, all who accept Jesus as Lord can come in to the family, a sufficient price having been paid for you.  Punishment for sin still remains for all those who do not come under the blood of Jesus.  You are already judged, if that is the case, and a horrible fate awaits you.  It is called "hell".  You don't have to lie, cheat, commit adultery or sin a single sin and "hell" awaits, if you are without Christ the Lord.  Live your best, do your best, but hell awaits without Christ the Lord.  It is already decided.

    To punish anyone for sin with something less than "hell" is, in a way, a reprieve from the awful judgment of "hell".   Sin is all equal.  Punishment for all sin is also equal.  It is called "hell".  If God chooses to punish Haiti for some pact with the devil, or punish New Orleans because of the sin down there, then God must apologize for not wiping out San Fransisco, Ca. and Washington, DC. and me and you.   For Him to strike out in judgment, to display such anger now, on saint and sinner, means the blood of Jesus was not effective.  That means we are all lost.  That means all is a cruel charade.  That means that "whoso ever will" is without meaning.  It means mercy was not granted and if mercy was not granted, there is no such thing as grace.

    It is true that actions have consequences.  Children playing in the street might get hit by a car.  But, don't tell me God allowed that little child to get hit by a car because He was upset over the behavior of the child's parents.  Haiti, New Orleans, etc., may suffer for decisions made, consequences may arise, but don't blame it on God.  He, in fact, is in motion to redeem us from our wickedness, wicked ways and even consequences we have brought on ourselves.   Yes, sin has consequences.  It is a terrible, horrible disease among men.  Left alone, it will bring misery in this life and eternal life in "hell".   However, there is a cure.  The precious blood of Jesus has redeemed us. That means a price has been paid for us.   That redemption means forgiveness is ours to claim daily.  That redemption means heaven is our destiny, not hell.  

    On this side of the cross, on which Jesus was made a curse for us, we can have the divine blessing, the divine favor of Abraham and the promise of the Holy Ghost.  That is a one-on-one, loved-based, family-oriented relationship with the Holy Ghost, God on earth.  Will God "chasten" us?  Of course, but never accuse God of chastening with evil.  People who think that way,  no nothing of a walking talking loving relationship with God whereby with His voice, His Word, His Spirit, His grace, He can chasten us freely.

Move to the right side of the cross.  It is over here that grace is abundant.