George Bernard wrote “The Old Rugged Cross” in 1913. Its lyrics go like this:
On a hill far away
stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross
where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross,
so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God
left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ‘twas on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
To the old rugged cross,
I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday
to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
This song, like many others, has so much meaning. People often wear a cross as jewelry or place a cross in their yards or at the graves of loved ones. Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
Consider five things that would not have happened if it were not for the cross.
1. There would be no church (Acts 20:28).
2. There would be no redemption (Ephesians 1:7).
3. There would be no observation of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:23–28).
4. There would be no separation of the Old Covenant from the New (Colossians 2:14).
5. There would be no salvation (Romans 5:8–10).
Never lose sight of the cross.
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.“ – John 3:16
