Which Cross Do We Carry?
We must decide whether to take Christ as Lord now or face Him as Judge later, with the consequences of our choice being played out in eternity.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the critical choice each individual faces regarding the cross they choose to carry, contrasting a 'crossless' Christianity with the true cross of Christ, which signifies death to self. He warns that many turn away from Jesus because they refuse to accept His conditions, and that compromising the truth undermines the security of the kingdom. Tozer asserts that Christ must be accepted as Lord in this life, or one will face Him as Judge in the next. He highlights the division between those who heed Christ's call and those who do not, stressing the importance of personal decision in the face of eternal consequences.
Text
One of the strange things under the sun is a "crossless" Christianity. The cross of Christendom is a "no-cross," an ecclesiastical symbol. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is a place of death! Let each one be careful which cross he carries! Thousands turn away from Jesus Christ because they will not meet His conditions. He watches them as they go, for He loves them, but He will make no concessions. Admit one soul into the kingdom by compromise and that kingdom is no longer secure. Christ will be Lord, or He will be Judge.
Every man must decide whether he will take Him as Lord now, or face Him as Judge then! "If any man will . . . let him follow me." Some will rise and go after Him, but others give no heed to His voice.
So the gulf opens between man and man, between those who will and those who will not. The Man, the kindly Stranger who walked this earth, is His own proof. He will not put Himself again on trial; He will not argue. But the morning of the judgment will confirm what men in the twilight have decided!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Crossless Christianity
- The Consequences of Compromise
- The Decision Before Us
- Each person must decide to take Christ as Lord or face Him as Judge
- The choice is between following Christ now or facing Him later
Key Quotes
“The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is a place of death!” — A.W. Tozer
“If any man will . . . let him follow me.” — A.W. Tozer
“He will not put Himself again on trial; He will not argue.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be careful not to compromise with God's standards in order to fit in with the world.
- Taking Christ as Lord requires a willingness to sacrifice and follow Him, even if it is difficult.
- The decision to follow Christ is a personal one that each of us must make, and it has eternal consequences.