A Tribute to the ‘Tower of Power’
As I approached the church late last week, I was greeted by three large
American Electric Power trucks and a host of workers in bright lime green vests. It was
clear that they were on a mission to replace one of the existing poles with a new one on
church property.
I was stuck by the size of the pole. It’s not like I had never seen one before, but
most of the ones we see are perpendicular to the ground. This one was parallel.
It reminded me of the cross. Not only would Jesus be unjustly crucified on it, but
He would be further humiliated by being forced to carry it up the hill on Calvary.
Like the pole, the cross is a symbol of power, but it is also a representation of
humility and submission. The pole has no power without the wires that hang from it. The
cross itself had no power had the Messiah not hung there for several agonizing hours
on the day of His death, but now it stands strong as the iconic symbol of our faith.
All these years later we gaze at the cross with a myriad of emotions. On the one
hand, there is sadness, regret, and horror. On the other, there is joy, freedom, and
praise.
Oh, but for the cross, where would we be today? As we continue to progress
through Lent, let us take some time to gaze once again on the cross to reflect on His
suffering and to marvel at His sacrifice. That could have been the end of the story, but a
few days later, He would rise again in great glory, power, and majesty, providing a
pathway to salvation for generations past, present, and future.
Lent is a sad and solemn time. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and
reconciliation, but it is also a time of preparation when we can come out of the darkness
and into the light.
As we humbly confess our sins, let us also take time to restore our covenant with
him and turn our back on sin. When Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” He knew that we
would not be perfect beings. He knew that we would be vulnerable to temptation and
that we would occasionally trip, stumble, and fall, but He also knew that we had the
wherewithal — with His help — to not allow sin to reign in our hearts.
That is the key message of His ministry, especially poignant during this Lenten
season. We must continue to walk in the light so that the enemy will not gain a foothold,
and that sin will not control our lives.
Depending on when you read this, there will be roughly three weeks before we
mark the dramatic events that would change the fate of humankind, from the Last
Supper to the Crucifixion to His Glorious Resurrection.
Even in these often dark and dreary March days of Lent, we know that the time
for rejoicing is near. Let us join together and honor the Lord God Almighty with some
meaningful prayer, deep devotion, and compassionate service during the climactic final
few weeks of Lent. Then we will really be equipped to celebrate when the Day of Glory
comes on Easter Sunday.
Until then, Be Blessed! – Pastor John