The Cross for a Crown

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain." This is the first verse from the beloved hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross". It paints an indelible picture in our minds and takes us two thousand years back to a Friday afternoon, at an execution site just outside of Jerusalem, Israel, to a moment that changed the course of human history forever. God's only begotten Son - the perfect and sinless Jesus - was crucified for the sins of the world! But He overcame the power of death and rose again on the third day. The redemptive act of His sacrificial love not only prevents sinners who believe in Him from being separated from God but also reconciles and restores the intimate relationship with God. Believers no longer need to live in fear and disparity from the threat of sin through death, but rather can be strong, courageous, and victorious in every moment of life because of the promise of God's presence. We can have the hope of eternal life. Who will proclaim this Good News to all Creation? The Lord Jesus has entrusted this mission to all believers – the Church. The theme of 2023 mission month is "The Cross, The Church, to all Creation". It comes from Colossians 1:15-27. The Cross is the origin of the Church's mission; the Church’s mission is the medium between the Cross and all Creation; all Creation is the map of the Church's mission. Imagine drawing a circle with a pencil tied to a string. The center point is the Cross; the string is the Church; the circle drawn by the pencil is all Creation. Without a fixed center point, it is impossible to draw a perfect circle freehand.

Likewise, the Cross, the Church, and all Creation are tightly woven together. A missional church cannot live up to the Great Commission if she is unclear about her message, nature, and map. Without the gospel of the Cross, the Church has no valuable message to proclaim to all Creation. Without testimonies of the Church, the world cannot see how the hope of the Cross is being brought to life. Without reaching to all Creation, the Church falls short of the riches of the glory of God revealed to all peoples through the Cross. Dear brothers and sisters, disciples of the Lord, when we obey the Great Commission, do we focus on proclaiming the salvation of the Cross, or are we simply charity volunteers of a non-profit organization? The Church is a group of people whose lives have been renewed by Jesus; does our daily testimony direct all Creation to the Lord Jesus, or is it a stumbling block? Finally, in today's global village era, are we intentional about reaching all Creation in our daily life, or are we idling and waiting for the next annual short-term mission trip opportunity? The chorus of "The Old Rugged Cross" goes like this, "So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown." Truly, to have the heart of missions is to be committed to it for a lifetime. What does that mean? It means serving with your youthful vigor and strength to proclaim the Cross of the Lord AND it also means to continue to serve and participate in missions as we grow in age and even when we are less mobile and weaker. How will you participate in missions in the coming year? Dear Austin Chinese Church, it is my hope that everyone here will someday receive the "crown" from the Lord. The apostle Paul devoted his life to missions. He encourages us in 2 Timothy 4:8, with this affirmation, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." A crown awaits you and me at the finish line of the Great Commission. Commitment to "The Cross, The Church, to all Creation'' is worthwhile.

In His Service, Enoch