Do these words seem familiar to you? “At the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the Light” These are part of the lyrics of a hymn that has been sung for centuries now. Issac Watts was the writer in the mid-1700s who penned this solemn lyric and if you will follow the link at the end of this sentence, there is a history of this hymn for you from a fellow blogger>>>. AT THE CROSS…
Now here we are in April 2019 and the Cross should be, significantly, on the mind of the believer as we reflect on the greatest gift we have ever been given. Jesus Christ as the “once for all” full payment of our sins, past, present and yet to come.
Other Hymn favorites like “The Old Rugged Cross”, “How Great There Art”, “Jesus is the Sweetest Name”, “In the Garden” and of course “Amazing Grace” in all it various renditions will be lifted up as the sweet aroma before the Throne of Grace on any Sunday between now and Easter Sunday.
Most people know the basics of the Story of the Cross, even unbelievers could tell you if you asked them with the caveat that it is all just a way to get money to fund the churches and wash the minds of those that don’t have any other Hope in life today. To some extent that may certainly be true, but we are not to judge as we could be judged as we have judged others and most certainly will be on the day of the Great White Throne Judgment.
Remember the triumphant ride into Jerusalem? It was a reflection of what was to come in a show of Love as Jesus had tears at the moment and His heart seeing what GOD’s people Israel would suffer. He knew that even in 2019, most Israelites would not see that their Messiah had visited and understand, HE will return. The Cross, while empty after this death before the resurrection, held the most Love it had ever held or would ever hold. In this Blog, I ask that you think with a lot of focus about this Love between the Ultimate Father and the Ultimate Son. GOD the Father and Jesus Christ the son. Think deeply about Jesus crying out on the Cross, “My GOD, my GOD, why have you forsaken me?”
It is a wrenching moment with an agonizing announcement from the only one that never sinned to take all the sin of all flesh for all time and with his Life pay for it all, once for all. At that moment our GOD the Father and Our Savior to be, Jesus Christ the only begotten sin engorged son, were separated by the sins of us all. Think on it, if there were 1/3 as many people as they are today and all the sins we commit were to be placed on one person all at once, how such a man or woman in the flesh could they bear it only so GOD might test the Love of that person. Ephesians 3:14-21 tries to tell us GOD’s Love and to the extent, it can reach.
Oh, so many speakers and believers and unbelievers jump on this “forsaken me” statement in scripture, “GOD will never Leave you or forsake you” It is written as truth in his word long before Jesus was on the Cross. But the statement was not made because GOD has forsaken his only begotten son. Jesus Chris utter it so that we would know Jesus KNEW how we in the flesh suffer when we are separated from GOD and our sin separates us all from GOD even further. Until then Jesus himself could not imagine it. Now HE does. Now HE never ceases to Pray as our High Priest for us knowing what the separation from GOD is too much of torment on us. He, Jesus Christ was fully connected to His Father, but at that moment, even the son of GOD could not feel the LOVE of HIS Father and GOD, because of HIS Holiness, was not able to be in the presence of HIS only begotten son for the first and only time, there was separation.
I think even Jesus Christ himself knowing all things, was not knowing the experience of this until that moment. Until the 40 days of temptation experience, Jesus could not have stated he knew temptations as we do and yet did not sin.
HE was not able until that moment with that experience, and when HE took our sin after being whipped, beaten down, thorns upon his head, spit on, had His own disciple deny Him 3 times and one other betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver.
He even became to the lowest among men and washed the feet of His disciples and so low the position was view in that day, that again Peter commented that we would not allow Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus explained what Peter would not have if Peter was not willing. So HE knows what we face and He knows that we must have an unshakable relationship with the Holy Father through Him in order to fill the GAP forever of the Separation from GOD for each of us.
It is the pain that GOD must have known and why He has made a way for us all to not be separated from HIM. GOD IS LOVE. (1John 1:9) Be Still and know that I AM, GOD. (Psalm 46:10) GOD is LOVE so be still and know I AM LOVE which I have stated in other blog posts.
There is a very wonderful but deeply humbling video that was made from a movie titled “John 3:16 -Story of Love” which was edited and a speakers voice added as dialog concerning something that I don’t think many believer’s look into as deeply as they should, in my opinion. The best way to describe it is to click that link of the title and watch it yourself. It is about 19 minutes long, but it will have a familiar cadence to it. I implore you to be absorbed in each character and in the words, and tone of the speaker. This about a Father that Loves the Son and Son that Loves a Father, but both become separated and the WHY is revealed.
When April 21, 2019 comes and if you find yourself and your family, remember Jesus did die on the Cross of Calvary once for all our sins. However on that day when you are celebrating it, remember the entire reason for Jesus to die for us was to do also the rest of the Love of GOD, to overcome death and to take away forever the power of sin to hold us, so on Easter Sunday, it is often called Happy Resurrection day. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes everything come to the pinnacle of His death and the risen live so we know “HE LIVES, HE LIVES, CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY!”
I pray each person that comes and reviews this blog and my artwork understands the gift of Salvation. No matter who, what, where, when or how you or your life has been, you can be saved.
The Gospel message is simple and very transforming to your life. Just start and let the Love of Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit carry you to the gift of Salvation.
If you send an email requesting Salvation Prayer, you will be prayed for and we will make sure you get some information about taking the walk of Salvation.
If you want to know more about Salvation right now, please click that link below this sentence. Remember to consider others as you change your life and share with someone else so they have a chance to change their lives today.
The Gospel Message to Salvation
Remember, view the images that are posted in the NEW ART section of this website. If there is a link for “Enter Drawing” and you would like to have a chance to get one of the available Art Frames, don’t wait. The drawings are on the 28th day of each month when available. We will contact the winner and get the art frame shipped to you. There is no charges for this. To the winner of the drawing, it is freely given. We do not ask for any money for the Cross Illuminated Art that is given, not even shipping and handling.
Thank you for taking the time to view my Art and also to read and to share with others this website.
If there are any questions please send an email to info@mycrossilluminatedart.net
If you set the world away from your life for a moment and focus on the Cross and what it means, your life will be transformed. It all starts at the Cross, where Christ Jesus, paid it all for us all. 
Click on the Cross at the right, see where His blood paid for our sins.
If you need prayer then send a request by clicking the word prayer.
Also if you would be interested in some of my art, then go to the New Art section and see what is available. Enter the drawing of any available NEW ART.
Focus on GOD through Jesus Christ, daily. If you will give GOD the focus, he will show you the reason he created you and if you commit your works to him, he will place the thoughts in your heart so you know what you should be accomplishing in your life.
God Bless and may his face shine upon you in 2019 !!!
Artist Sharon Smith
My Cross Illuminated Art 