The Sacred Shadow of the Cross
For long centuries has the Cross of Christ been the most precious meditation of the saints and the myrrh of His sufferings been the powerful fragrance that lingers longest in the heart that considers Him. For me, even in these last few days, considering His Passion is the place of light and truth—the place where the shadows flee away and the light of truth prevails.
The sacred sketch of His sufferings in the meditation of my heart is to me wave after wave of renewed certainty in His tenderness and confidence in the magnitude of His compassion and His affections so personal. It is not an old subject to revisit. It is a sacred mystery ever new—that will keep us in trembling wonder for the duration of the eternal ages.
I find no greater meditation, no safer place to set the eyes of my heart upon than beneath the shadow of those sacred wooden beams, there gazing up upon the broken body of the One who was Himself God in the flesh—the only One that ever truly loved me. Every drop of blood that there drips down shouts a deafening song of Love untold. Every glance into the most marred holy Face wrenches my heart into a heaving of at last believing that it is true, all is true…oh my God it is true.
No shadow of darkness prevails here. No arrogant accusation touches me in this place. No persuasive sneer dares a single word. Here hovering in the most holy silhouette of all time I am kept most safe and I can finally agree with the words so bold,
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely gives us all things?...Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us fro the love of Christ?... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8
This Cross of Christ is my greatest truth…my sure anchor in the storm. Whenever my heart fails me, my emotions revolt in torrent within me, or my enemy assails me with lies of my undeserving or disqualification, I run swiftly to this Safest Shadow and there gaze resolutely upon Him…until only Truth remains.
Oh beautiful sight, that leaves my heart so torn, that grips my soul so fiercely, that leaves my eyes as streams and my heart so defenseless and vulnerable to believe…it is true, all is true…oh my God, it is true.