Corrie Ten Boom who was put in a concentration camp during World War ll, who suffered great loss and was treated cruelly along with many others penned these words:
“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? “Lord Jesus”, I prayed, “forgive me and help me to forgive him….Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness…”
And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”
― Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place
Forgiveness and grace to ‘love our enemies’ is not in our own capacities at all-however, they are in the Lord’s. Thus the expression, ‘I will cling to the old rugged cross’ means something to me. You see, the words aren’t simply ‘I’m looking to the cross’ or even ‘I’m near the cross’ – NO – the words in an age old hymn are much more desperate and urgent than that: ‘I will CLING to the old rugged cross’!
Is there anyone else in this desperate place? There is cruelty and there is anger being poured out on the innocent! This is a difficult day!Things just aren’t done in ‘righteousness and truth’ anymore. I really wish I liked the melody line more, of this hymn, ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, but I am going to try to make it my own and play this one and speak these words, because God exhorts us to ‘speak in Psalms and hymns’ and make spiritual melody in our hearts to the Lord- so that a complete and perfect work of ‘forgiveness’ can take place in my broken vessel! I have no idea how to ‘love my enemies’.But as Corrie Ten Boon said, I will believe: “When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”
So, “I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.” Yes, we will wear forgiveness and mercy like a crown, just like our Jesus. This is where I want to dwell and keep my thoughts when I am challenged in the ‘forgive’ task.
“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.”
“Oh, 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.” So, I’ll cherish the old rugged cross….
I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown!”
Jesus could bear that cross at dark Calvary, and suffer to take my punishment today, yesterday and even tomorrow, even for all our sin; can we bear this cross to forgive for Him and His glory? ‘Clinging to the old rugged cross…
“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, It’s shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away Where His glory forever I’ll share…
“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.”
Today, with all the grace and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, I will wear forgiveness as a crown on this thorny ol’ earth, clinging, yes, clinging to that old rugged cross.
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