“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 someday for a crown.” (Baptist Hymnal 93, 1956 Edition)
The refrain of the Hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” challenges us to embrace the significance of the cross and be closely attached to it and its message. The old rugged cross is one of the most iconic and spiritually potent symbols in Christian faith. The cross is not just a historical object; it is the pivotal moment where divine justice met divine love. It is more than a mere decoration; it embodies the heart of the gospel: suffering and salvation, judgment and mercy, death and eternal life.
Therefore, to cherish the cross is to embrace both the cost and the triumph of Christ’s sacrifice and allow it to shape our worship, identity, and mission. At Calvary, Jesus bore sin’s full weight, reconciling humanity to God. To cherish the Cross is to never grow cold to the wonder of grace and the power of atonement. Cherishing the cross means embracing sacrificial love, enduring hardship, and following Jesus without reservation. It is a daily decision to die to self and live for the glory of God. In a world that idolises ease and spectacle, the cross remains a scandalous grace and a glorious truth. Let us not merely sing of it, let us live under its shadow and shine with its power.
Rev. Moses Abayomi Sodeinde
