On a Hill Far Away...

Topic(s): Jesus, Salvation

Few songs have words of such intensity as these written by George Bennard: “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suff’ring and shame….” As our mind’s eye catches a glimpse of Calvary we see the great cost at which our salvation came.

I want to share with you a story that brought tears to my eyes. The author is Tim Miller from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania (related in Leadership magazine).

My nine-year-old daughter Jennifer was looking forward to our family’s mini-vacation. But when our vacation arrived, she became ill, and a long anticipated day at Sea World was replaced by an all-night series of CAT scans, X-rays, and blood work at a hospital.

As morning approached, the doctors told my exhausted little girl that she needed to have one more test, a spinal tap. The procedure would be painful, they said. The doctor then asked me if I planned to stay in the room. I nodded my head, knowing I couldn’t leave Jennifer alone during the ordeal.
The doctors gently asked Jennifer to remove all her clothing. She looked at me with childlike modesty as if to ask if that were all right. Then they had her curl into a tiny ball. I buried my face in hers and hugged her.

When the needle went in, Jennifer cried. As the searing pain increased, she sobbingly repeated, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” her voice becoming more earnest with each word. It was as if she was saying, “Oh Daddy, this hurts soooo bad. Please can’t you do something?”

My tears mingled with hers. My heart was broken. I felt nauseous. Because I loved her, I was allowing her to go through the most agonizing experience of her life, and I could hardly stand it. (We later learned that Jennifer’s illness was not serious.)

In the middle of the spinal tap, my thoughts went to the cross of Christ. What unspeakable pain both the Son—and the Father—went through at the cross for our sakes (2 Corinthians 9:15).

We owe a debt that can never be fully paid—the best we can do is give ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1, 2).

—Garvis Semore

The Colors of Calvary

Topic(s): Jesus, Salvation

GREEN—The Color of Envy: “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him” (Matthew 27:18).
YELLOW—The Color of Cowardice: “He took water, and washed his hands before the multitude” (Matthew 27:24).
GREY—The Color of Unbelief: “What is truth?” (John 18:38).
PURPLE—The Color of Royalty (mockery): “Hail, King of the Jews” (John 19:2-3).
WHITE—The Color of Innocence: “a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19).
BLACK—The Color of Sin: “There was darkness over all the land” (Matthew 27:45).
CRIMSON—The Color of Forgiveness: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).