Articles
Cross on Wheels
Recently while returning home from Wal-Mart, I passed a man walking along the side of the road carrying—or rather, dragging—a cross. The cross was made of wood and looked to be pretty substantial. It was probably seven feet tall and five feet wide. The wood was 4×4s, the kind you use for posts on a deck, and was probably quite heavy. The man looked like he had been carrying this cross for some time. In fact, my wife later saw him in another part of town. I don’t know anything more about the man—his beliefs or his purpose for carrying the cross—but there were a few observations that I thought were obvious.
First, I’m pretty sure he believes in Jesus. In our world, the cross is a universal symbol of Jesus Christ. Those who are against Christianity or religion in general include the cross as a symbol of Christianity and religion and are becoming quite vocal about removing the cross from public places. So far, though, those two pieces of wood together in that specific shape are seen as a clear reference to Christianity. We should not rely on the cross as an icon or symbol but tell the salvation of the cross.
Second, the man was not ashamed to “bear” his cross before everyone who saw him. The sight of a man carrying a cross along the side of a road isn’t exactly a common sight. Conversely, Jesus cautioned us about hiding our lights under bushels. I remember “street preachers” from years ago and sadly felt ashamed for them. Again, remember Jesus’ warning about denying him before men. Pray for boldness to “confess Him before men.”
Third, the man carrying his cross was sending a message. Without knowing more about him, we can’t know for sure the message he intended. But the sight of him along the roadside caused me to think, and I imagine most everyone who saw him formed some conclusion about what they saw. Yes, some people probably concluded he was a “nut case.” Others might have thought he was doing this to be seen of men. And there were those who probably saw him as a “religious fanatic.” I only saw a man carrying a cross, a believer in Jesus who was not ashamed to openly show it, and attempting to convey some message. The message I got was for me to search and pray for strength and courage to be more open about my faith.
There was one other thing I noticed about this man and his cross. At the bottom of the cross were two wheels. The cross was heavy and difficult to drag along the asphalt. Without the wheels, it would have been a struggle to drag and the bottom would have become worn down after some distance. So I do understand the reason for the wheels, but I saw one other message in this scene.
We as true disciples of Jesus Christ, the lights of the world, must bear our own cross and that of our Master. We must not be ashamed to be seen of men. We should be happy and enthusiastic to show our Savior to others. The lesson we carry is the gospel of Jesus and we cannot be ashamed of it, but we must bear our cross without the aid of “wheels” to smooth and ease our journey. Look around at the ways men have devised to make being a Christian easier and more convenient. But remember Jesus on his agonizing walk to Calvary. Bear your cross, but do it without wheels.
