I wanted to share some thoughts on the service that we attended last night at Harvest Elgin. The church had non typical service last night. Instead of singing worship songs and then having a sermon preached; the service was more interactive. After singing a few worship songs based on the cross the congregation was then dismissed in sections to the foyer. In the foyer there were 4 different stations. All four rooms focused on the wounding and crucifying of the Lord done in a very tasteful and effective way. After the people had gone through the 4 different areas they went down a candle lit hallway to meet judges. The judge then stamped on their hands the word
GUILTY.
For two of three services I played the role of one of the judges. I had many thoughts go through my mind as I stamped hand after hand of the hundreds of people who went through the line. There were old and young, big and small, many nationalities and they all had one thing in common...
they are all GUILTY! Some were moved to tears as they looked down on their hands and seen the word
GUILTY. They realized that the charge is true and they were broken by that reality. I saw many children look up into their parents faces and ask
"what does that mean"? Many parents did a great job of helping their children understand that our sin makes us
GUILTY before God.
My
heart felt heavy as I stamped person after person. I thought of the awefulness of sin and that it plagues all of mankind. There was
not one person who could pass by that was innocent. (Rom.3:10,23) It didn't matter if they were kind and nice people. It didn't matter if they were young or old. It didn't matter whether thay had a life of hardship or a life of blessing. Then I was struck by the fact that I had stamped hundreds of hands and was feeling heavy hearted...what about the billions that are
GUILTY before God?! 6,811,988,144...that is the estimated population at this moment.
6,811,988,144 GUILTY! Many unaware of their guilt, many not caring, many angered by the accusation!
After the people in the line went around the corner they came to the cross, they signed their names on the cross and then they stood in a doorway where there was a sign that read
Christ in __________'s place. As you stood in the doorway believers were reminded that Christ took our place and they were given communion to remember that precious promise! We are guilty, everyone one of us, yet for those who put their trust in Him
our GUILT has been placed upon Christ at the cross.
One last thought.
How many people do I see everyday that are GUILTY and yet they have no idea about the cross! I was moved to tears last night as I considered that. I am too busy and too complacent to care and even if I did stop and consider their plight I often am too fearful to do anything about it. Yes, it is true that they may reject the Good News about the cross and they may even make my life uncomfortable for a few minutes, BUT what about those who receive the Good News and are freed from their
GUILT! Lord God use us to proclaim the Good News and give us a heart to see the
GUILTY freed! (Matt.28:18-20)