The Cross of Jesus Christ! The most recognized emblem in the world! A symbol of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, hope, peace, and eternal life! Why is there so much opposition to it? There is only ONE answer to that question: no one wants to carry his God-given cross - God's pleasing and perfect will for his or her life. Why? As spoken by the Lord, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:2; Mark 8:34 NIV) Self-denial of our own will in order to live for someone else is a hard choice, even in this simple life we live. "How hard it is for many to give themselves over to me," says the Lord. "Very few will say, 'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, '" (Philippians 1:21-24 NIV) Millions embrace the cross of Christ with open arms; yet very few open their hearts to carry and endure the pain of the cross unto their death, thus denying the power of the Cross: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, (Jesus Christ) who loved me and gave himself for me."
Author Biography:
Javier Macias says, "I stand on the authority of the word of God that enables me to see beyond what is seen with the naked eye. Our future is now, Jesus Christ!" Javier's personal task, and calling, is, "Jesus Christ, and none other!" He receives messages from God in very unique ways. They can come through a movie, a conversation being carried on by others, a simple gesture made by someone, or a spoken word directly to him from God Himself. Javier says, "As a servant and Prophet of the Lord, I will not be held accountable unto the Lord for anyone's blood! When called upon to do a work, it must be done with reverence towards the One who called one to do it." Javier Macias is the founder of, "We Rock Youth Ministries!" We Rock Youth Ministries! is a non-profit, 501(c3) status organization, incorporated in 1999. We Rock Youth Ministry's foundational faith statement is: "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his Love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same Love, being in one Spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others. In your relationships with one another, have the SAME MINDSET as Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on the cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and EVERY tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:1-11, NIV) "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen. "I AM the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
