CUTTING OFF THE CROSS

We heard of a dear old brother, who for many years took his stand, opposing
the worldliness and drift in his church and community.

His wife wanted to stop going to the church on Sunday night, instead she
wanted friends over for a little card party. After all that's what most of the
people were doing anyway.

The children tried to talk him into letting them bring their strong drinks
home and keep them in the refrigerator. Of course, if he didn't they could
always drink away from home. He was told that if his children were on drugs
they should do it in their own home as others were doing it. And he was a real
square when he nearly fainted at his daughter's suggestion that she go and
live with her boyfriend. He couldn't believe that this was happening in his
own home.

They all declared that they loved the Lord as much as he did and that being
popular was not so reproachful.

He was troubled in his mind and wondered just what to do. It seemed there was
no one who encouraged him to keep contending for the old paths.

Then one night, he dreamed that he was carrying his cross. The cross was
bungle-some, heavy, and painful to his back. In his dream, his family
sympathized with him and suggested that he saw off a little of the cross. So,
he cut off part of the heavy cross. It was lighter, but still somewhat of a
burden, so again he listened to their persuasion and cut off some more of his
cross.

He then found that his cross was less painful and much easier to bear. It
appeared less obnoxious to the family and friends.

Traveling on in his dream, he came at last to a chasm deep and wide. Jagged
rocks jutted from its sides and murky waters dashed and roared below. He
realized this to be the River of death.

To cross it safely meant a landing on the sunny banks of sweet deliverance. To
fail meant to be carried down to the eternal regions of dark damnation. His
heart trembled as he contemplated the treacherous crossing.

How could he make it? Then a voice seemed to say, "The Cross. Use the cross
that you carry." He placed one end of his cross on the jutting rocks at his
feet, then let it fall in an effort to span the gulf. He started to walk
across but, alas, his cross was so short that it slipped off the edge on the
farther side plunging him into the dark waters as he screamed in despair, "If
only I had not shortened my cross!"

Awakening from his dream, he fell upon his knees and promised God that he
would never compromise or let down, even if he must go all alone.

"And be not conformed to this world" Romans 12:2.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing" II Corinthians 6:17.

"Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God" James 4:4.