by David Scott Robertson
Have you ever awakened from a deep sleep and found yourself disoriented in your own bedroom? You’re still a little groggy as you get up out of the bed trying to stumble your way through the pitch black darkness to the bathroom (stubbing your toe along the way) running into furniture?
I’ve had that experience before where I’ve found myself standing in my very own bedroom in the darkness with zero visibility not knowing which way was up. As a matter of fact, I have had that happen on more than one occasion. But I want to tell you that even in that awkward situation God has taught me a great lesson.
You see, on the end of our bed there are tall wooden poles. The decorative poles complement the headboard and make for a lovely bed. But the wooden poles on the end of the bed serve another purpose for me.
Whenever I can’t see anything at all in the darkness of the room, I reach out for a wooden pole at the end of my bed. And the moment my fingers locate the pole, instantly I know where every single piece of furniture is in the room. I can’t see it with my eyes, but I can now see it in my mind’s eye. I’ve memorized where everything is in relation to the bed and now I can safely navigate my way through the darkness because the wooden pole on my bed has suddenly put everything into perspective.
And the thought that the Holy Spirit etched in my heart was that this is how the cross works. As we stumble our way through a world darkened by sin, often disoriented (even afraid) because we don’t exactly know which way to go to find relief, we can reach out for the cross of Jesus Christ.
And the moment we come in contact with the cross, instantly we know the way home. Although we can’t see the cross of Christ with our natural eyes, through the eyes of faith we can experience His sin-forgiving sacrifice, and the illumination of the truth of God’s love drives away the darkness. Suddenly, the cross has put everything in perspective.
Today if you are having difficulty navigating your way through a specific problem or through life in general, reach out for the cross. Touch it and be touched by it and you’ll see life in a whole new light.
DSR
8/4/03