Where Is Your Cross?

I woke up with a vision this morning. (A vision is something that you "see" in your mind's eye. It reveals things you should know, convicts you of things you should do, and leads you in where you should go. It is not really all that mysterious. It sort of develops the more you think of it.) I "saw" a road that stretched over the horizon and beyond my sight. Along the side of the road were crosses. They seemed to be everywhere. I was on this road with a cross.

Now here is the strange part (as if the rest of this isn't strange), the cross was a joy rather than a burden. I noticed that someone was walking next to me. I didn't identify him as an angel though he may have been. He just seemed to be there.

I asked, "Why are all these crosses laying beside the road?"

"O, those are the crosses that Christians were supposed to pick up each day. They left them here when they went into the city."

"There's a city?" I asked.

"Sure," came the quick reply, "no one has to stay on this road. You just have to leave your cross here if you do."

"So, these Christians were enticed by sinful things, right?" I smirked. "Yeah, things like gambling and drinking and sex. Things I preach against every Sunday."

"Not so much," he said with a saddness that cannot be captured with words, "most of the time its good things that get them off the road. They hear the call of their children or spouse or parents or even their reputations. Soon, the cross gets too heavy and they drop it. They leave the road soon afterwards."

"But don't they know that Jesus said that we can't be His disciples unless we put all that aside and keep our eyes on Him? Don't they realize what they have done?"

"You see," he answered, "once they have dropped their crosses they make excuses to convince themselves that Jesus never expected them to really hate their fathers, mothers, spouses, children and their own lives. That way they can live good Christian lives without carrying a cross."

"So, are they happy now?" I asked expecting him to laugh.

"Yes," he said with that same saddness, "they are happy."

We walked along and he finally said, "They are happy but they never have joy."

I got up from my bed and thought about this "vision." I dressed, got my things together, mounted my bicycle and headed to work. I told the Lord on the way:

"Today I take up my cross. Nothing will get between me and you, Lord. I will not act on my on behalf. I will do whatever, whenever, however for as long as it takes to obey your will. Neither my family, bank account or job will get in the way. I am dead to these things because I carry my cross."

Then, I received the joy of the Lord.

Where is your cross?

Luke 14:26-27 (NIV) ²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.