The Message and the Power - 1 Corinthians 1:18

 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  - 1 Corinthians 1:18

    We often fondly remember those times in our lives when something positive and affirming has taken place for us. We might remember the day we got our start in a career that spanned out successfully for us. We might remember the day we met the man or woman who would become our spouse. We might remember the days that each of our children were born.
     For the Christian, Good Friday is a day which brings bitter sweet memories for us. It is both the day that our Lord Jesus Christ was so brutally tortured and crucified and yet it too is the glorious day of our eternal salvation. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8.  For us, who are being saved!
    The idea of being saved is quite an event is one’s life regardless of the implication. Saved from what? Imagine being saved from a fall off a steep cliff, or being saved from a car that has plunged into a river, or being saved from an attack by wild animals. In each of the aforementioned situations, the one being saved would have much to be grateful for. Can you imagine the gratitude you would have after being saved from a house fire? What thankfulness we would show to the man who dragged us from such a certain fiery death! Jesus Christ is that man, and He has saved us not from a house fire but from hell fire. It is His substitutionary death that has saved us from the darkness of eternal damnation. To us who have been saved it is the power of God.
    What great news we would share with those we love, as well as anyone else who would listen. We would tell them of the miraculous event of our salvation from the fire. We would boast not that we pulled ourselves to freedom but that our Savior did what we could not. He did for us what we are not strong enough to do for ourselves - “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” - Romans 5:6. Could we ever speak of such a life changing event too often? I think not.
     If you are a man or a woman who has felt the saving grace of Christ’s love, share your story of salvation with someone today. That is the message and the power of the cross.