Those were my nails..

I remember sitting in the church pew, visiting a new church prospect out in Maryland about 10 years ago. Yes, the time of year was the same...Easter! Yet, 10 years ago I sat there listening to a beautiful song, "those were my nails"! Many times throughout my life, I've thought about the fact that I deserve death...! Surprisingly, I'm shocked by the fact that those were my nails. In fact, I still act surprised when death visits me..or, am I acting? The truth is that this world is full of sin and death! While death has been swallowed up by victory....Oh death where is your sting...??? Maybe the problem isn't the fact that victory can be ours it's rather...why isn't it yours??? Still trying to embrace why the need for the nails...Why the need for the death?? Why did it have to be a cross...??? Still wondering why??? Without the cross of Jesus Christ...without His sacrifice to take my place, we could never have our sins erased...

Principle: Without the sacrifice He made to take my place, I could never have my sins erased!! 

You may not want to accept that there is death and that it stings or that there is darkness..prevalent evil among us, but the reality remains unchanged...Death is the enemy and there is but one Cure...The cross...!! Those were my nails...and if Christ didn't take them for me...I couldn't sing, "Oh victory in Jesus, my savior forever...He plunged me to victory with His redeeming blood."

The cross only seems to get really personal when we remember that those were your nails, and your cross!!

Principle: When the cross loses it's victory and it's power fails, you've forgotten that those were your nails.

The reality is simple...we are forgetful aren't we...??? Perhaps that's why we must take communion so that we "Do this in remembrance of Him"?? Thus, we proclaim His death until He comes again???

1 Corinthians 11:26New International Version (NIV)

26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Death is not a problem in as much as the failure to realize that you and I are dying and there is only one cure, one hope, one peace, one answer...His name is Jesus..and He saves me from my sin.

Ephesians 4 New International Version (NIV)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.