The Cross as an Agent of Change

Reverend Keith Ogden, Pastor, Hill Street Baptist Church

As we journey into a new year, we must learn to become an agent of change.

In order to possess anything in life, your mind must be properly instructed with what I would like to call the key ingredients of faith, obedience, discipline, a proper mind-set, loyalty and allegiance. These ingredients are necessary to move from where you are, to where God wants you to be. Changes could come in the form of job loss, divorce, death of a loved one, or maybe a conflict between family, or friends. Some of these changes come about as a result of decisions we have consciously made, or perhaps through a judgment error.



Other
life-as-we-knew-it transitions are the result of changes being forced
upon us, leaving us powerless and unable to do anything about it. We
know that time heals all wounds, but until we get past that waiting
period, we have to work through the change until we can eventually
recognize our loss, and come to terms with the void. Once we have
passed that point, it is then time to move forward; to change our
habits, begin new activities, and walk along a new path of
life-as-we-know-it-now.


If we look
carefully, we can see this new life as an opportunity to seek out new
adventures. We can also remember the good from the past, discard the
pain and sorrow, and nurture the blessings that surround us.


There are all
sorts of agents of change around us. Think about computers, and how
they have changed life around us. Regardless how we feel about them,
they are an agent of change in all our lives.


My wife and I
can remember one of the most powerful agents of change our lives, it
was the birth of our daughter. I remember when it was just the two of
us, and we could come and go at a moments notice. When our child
arrived, we could no longer think of just ourselves, we had to think of
the baby and what was best for her. The main word around the house
became “Shhhhh,” because the birth of our child was our agent of change.


The King James Version of the Bible states:


“Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians. 5:17 (King James
Version)


Have you ever
stopped to think of Jesus Christ as an agent of change in your life? If
you want to become and agent of change, what are you willing to leave
at the cross?


We have seen what Jesus brought, with scarred hands, he offered forgiveness. Through torn skin, he promised acceptance.


    Are you ready to become an agent of change?

    To change, leave your bad moments at the cross!

    To change, leave your bad habits at the cross!

    To change, leave your selfish moods at the cross!

    To change, leave your lies at the cross!

    To change, leave your binges and bigotries at the cross!

    To change, leave your failures and mistakes at the cross!