That Old Rugged Cross

There is a old hymn that I love, "The Old Rugged Cross" by George Bennard. Here are some of the beautiful words; On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering 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 some day for a crown. O 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. Don't these word just pierce your heart? I think most people don't even think about the cross and what it means. In obedience to God the Father and His plan, Jesus took all sin upon Himself and made restitution for us. For there had to be an atonement of a blood sacrifice, an unblemished Lamb, who is Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin. Praise His name for this wondrous thing!! Acts 2:23-24  this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Colossians 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Lord, this makes me shout Amen and Hallelujah! He took away our sin!! John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1Peter 1:19 with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Sins eternally forgiven by His gift on that Cross:Heb.9:20-26 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you."  And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Have you trusted this gift today? You may not have a tomorrow! Lord, our time is short. Open eyes and hearts to receive Your good news. In Jesus Holy name. Amen