IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! The Importance of the Cross

John Wooden, the  late, legendary basketball coach for UCLA always kept a cross in his pocket.  When asked why, he responded, “To remind me that there is something more important than basketball.”

I really enjoy the game of basketball, but I need to realize some things are more important.  I don’t want to be like the fellow who watched so much basketball that his wife said, “I think you love basketball more than me.”  To that he thought for a moment and responded, “Yes, dear, but I love you more than football.”  If you said that to your wife, you would be in trouble!  But if you said that to Jesus, you would be in serious trouble. Serious soul trouble.  Serious eternal trouble. Of course, none of us would ever say that, but we might live our lives glorifying  and glorying in the wrong things

Paul wrote in Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Certainly the events in the world today remind us that many things are more important than basketball, recreation or sporting events. Actually the cross ought to remind us that there is something more important than anything else and everything else in life.           

            Today is Friday.  You may get your paycheck. That’s important! You may be going out to eat.  Or see a movie. Or attend a concert.  Those will be fun!  Or there may be work to begin around your house or yard.  Those are needful!  But something is more important.  The cross!

Picture those on that Friday ….“those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,  save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mk. 15:29) I Imagine that some of them had important things on their minds.  Things to do before the Sabbath began.  Preparations to make.  Places to go.  Little did they know that everything was about to change on Sunday!  What they thought was pretty important, really wasn’t.

          Remember when you attend worship on Sunday that the cross is more important than politics, business or education.  The cross is more important than your career, your net worth or your health.  The cross is more important than relationships.  The cross is more important than opinions.  The cross is more important than our national security.

The cross is even more important than your very life! Why?  Because the cross has to do with the security of the soul, our spiritual possessions and our eternal salvation.      With all that is going on in the world, don’t forget the cross is the most important thing in life. Carry it with you.  If not literally in your pocket, spiritually in your heart

 —Ken Weliever, The Preacherman