JammieWearingFool (just love that blog name!) has the story.
Excerpt:
I agree with the guys over at TAH, this case of the Mojave Desert cross is entering into the theater of the absurd. The latest update is that a replica cross was constructed and erected while waiting for the original cross which had been stolen to be recovered.
Of course the loyal federal government employee of the month candidate has to come out and say not so fast.The National Park Service said in a press release Thursday afternoon that the replica cross would be removed.
Late Thursday, Mojave National Preserve spokeswoman Linda Slater told reporters in California that the new cross is illegal and must come down.
So let me get this straight. According to the twisted logic of this government bureaucrat only the original cross can go back up. If the original cross is never recovered, then a criminal has accomplished what the liberals couldn't through the force of the courts and they are alright with it.
Why all the fuss over a war memorial cross?
Why would those who choose not to believe in Jesus Christ, the Bible, the Gospel of Christ, and the message of the Cross be so hostile towards those who do believe?
Why does the existence of a cross at a war memorial, which had been there for 75? years, bother them so much that they have to fight tooth and nail to get it down?
The Bible tells us why:
1Cr 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.
When a person wants to reject the power of God, it is only fitting for them, in their unrepentant mindset, to also reject the message of the cross. Those who think that the cross of Christ is 'foolishness' still must have the agonizing feeling within their hearts, minds, and souls that they are perishing - both physically and spiritually. It is as though they have a void in their lives that can't be filled in any other way. It is the vacuum of the soul that can only be filled through the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
2Cr 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
2Cr 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2Cr 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
2Cr 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Cr 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward [man] is being renewed day by day.
When the Bible says that our "inward man is being renewed day by day," it reminds us that we are not perfect. And, this side of heaven, we never will be. But we are called to preach the Gospel, as imperfect as we are, because Jesus Christ, in whom we trust and desire to share with others IS PERFECT.
2Cr 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
The "fragrance of Christ" is interesting to consider. We often think of fragrance as being pleasant - and most of the time a fragrance that we like is pleasant to smell. However, have you ever sniffed a fragrance and said "ewww!!!"? I have. There are some fragrances that other people like that I can't stand. That is what I think this verse means. The fragrance of Christ's power and might; his call for man to repent of their sins; and the ultimate redemption that he has provided for us at the Cross of Calvary is reviled by those who reject Him.
However, with a change of heart, any person who once reviled Christ can repent and turn to Him, making the fragrance of Christ the most beautiful experience in the world!
Recall the thieves on the crosses at each side of the cross of Jesus Christ:
Luk 23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, [fn] save Yourself and us."
Luk 23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
Luk 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, [fn] remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
One of the two thieves, both of whom at first mocked Jesus, turned and repented right there on the cross. And Jesus told him that he will be with Him in Paradise.
Who in their right mind would turn down such saving grace?
Jesus is knocking on the door of the hearts of the unsaved each and every day. The messages that you read, first and foremost in His Word, the Bible; and on blogs, websites, in Christian authored books, at Bible believing and following churches, in devotionals etc. are just a few of the ways that Jesus is reaching this fallen world.
I read a great story sent to me via email a few days back. (Hat tip to Janet H. for sharing it with me!) Read what this little child said to a nurse who placed the disk of a stethoscope on his heart and the hearing apparatus to the child's ears:
A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little
ones' chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own heart. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four-year old David's comment.
Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the
disk over his heart. 'Listen', she said...'What do you suppose that is?' He
drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap - tap - tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked,
'Is that Jesus knocking?'
Godly wisdom - out of the mouths of babes!
Jesus told us that until we become like little children - we will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Mat 18:2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
What do little children do? They TRUST. They follow the lead of the parents and trust them for their well-being. The same is true of us in regards to our Father in Heaven. Until we humble ourselves and trust God for His Perfect Provision of reconciliation over sin, death, and evil - the Cross of Jesus Christ and His subsequent Resurrection from the dead - then we will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
We are then called, by the Great Commission, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.
2Cr 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2Cr 4:8 [We are] hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair;
2Cr 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
2Cr 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
2Cr 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," [fn] we also believe and therefore speak,
2Cr 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present [us] with you.
2Cr 4:15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
2Cr 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward [man] is being renewed day by day.
2Cr 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory,
2Cr 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen [are] temporary, but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.
Hat Tips:
JammieWearingFool
Blue Letter Bible
Janet H. for emailed story
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Replica cross in Mojave Desert comes down