Carry Your Cross

Christianity is not an easy religion. It does not offer comfort, nor happiness. Peace, perhaps, but that is a necessary peace, so that one may rejoice in suffering. The early church fathers were often persecuted. Paul went to jail numerous times. There was much pain. They were forced to walk with a cross in hand, metaphorically speaking. They were forced like criminals going to execution. In America, we devalue the cross. To us, it is the empty cross. We're wrong in that. Nay, that emptiness represents that it is yet to be occupied. We are yet to die. Our suffering is not yet come. Never confuse the empty cross with the empty grave- the latter is far more beautiful. It represents a conquered death. The empty cross is a symbol of despair, until it is occupied. Then that cross becomes a real symbol of life. There is a peace in suffering, but there is real hope in death. We have nothing to fear while we suffer the cross- only while we carry it to our deaths for Christ.