It is only through the light of the sun, that we can get any vision of the moon.   It is through the sun's light, that the moon lights the earth.   Likewise, this dark, restless, sinful world, with its mass of dying humanity, has no light, no explanation, apart from Christ, the Son of God.   In Him alone, can we understand God's purpose in creation.

     Leave Christ out and hope dies, and we are left to grope in endless despair and darkness.   Likewise, apart from the cross, there is no possible explanation of Christ, Himself.   Christ without Calvary, leaves mankind a mystery; a hopeless puzzle; without any light on the future; with no ray of hope for eternity.

     Until we get a clear vision of the cross from God's standpoint, we cannot effectually serve Him and suffering humanity.   It was through the cross, that He despoiled principalities and powers of darkness, and triumphed over them, abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light (Colossians 2:15; II Timothy 1:10).

     Have we come to where we can see all things through Calvary?   Otherwise, our vision of God, Christ, and His Word is faulty, and our service for Him will be powerless (II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:16).

     To walk in the light of Calvary, we first sink down into the death of the cross.   Our soul must be overwhelmed in a vision of what it means to Christ.   His pierced hands and pierced feet and side were only outward marks of His suffering.   Cruel, these were, and the crown of thorns, but ah, the broken poured-out heart within, we cannot see.   Only as we yield ourselves to the nails, and daily die with Him, can we know anything about the agony of the cross.   When we give ourselves over to die with Him, and for Him, then, we begin to know the fellowship of His suffering; then, the world and all the fleshly pleasures, become loathsome to us.

     If we would be used in Christ's service, we must know something of what it means to become conformed unto His death.   Yea, we should long, above everything else in this life, to know the fellowship of His suffering, to be made conformable unto His death.   That is, in all our ways, motives, and actions, "fashioned" after the death of Christ.   In life, always exhibiting the lamb-like submission to death, as did Christ for others; thus through death, daily overcoming, even as did our Lord.

     We must first learn, the life-long lesson of viewing ourselves in the light of the cross.   When we were hopeless, helpless, with no soundness in us, dead in sin, the wrath of God abiding upon us; love carried us to the cross, washed us in the blood, and set us free.

     It was this melted heart of the love of Christ, poured out at Calvary, that redeemed us. (Psalms 22:14).   Amazing love of God the Father and Christ the Son exhibited at Calvary for us!   Oh, to know it!   When we, with a bruised, broken, crushed heart from the conviction of sin, reached up and by faith accepted this love of the cross as ours, then, it came into our hearts; a very fountain of life.   Yea, this unspeakable love of Calvary became our very own, to abide forever.

     You wonder with an anxious, burning heart; how can this new love, so sweet, so deep, and precious, flow out from us to others--to a sin-sick dying world?   Here, dear friends, is the secret.   It flows out only, as we let it flow in!   We want love and power, but God wants a crucified life.   "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart."   It is only here, in this unselfish death with Christ, that we can, in our life and actions, be seen in the light of Calvary.

     As we move into the experience of the Cross, and live in the love-light of its glory, we can and will begin to see, others in the same light.   Oh! how we need to always see our brethren and sisters in the Lord, in the light of the cross!   However humble or insignificant they may be, or however unlovable, could we but see them in the light of the wounded and dying Christ on the cross for them, then we would say, "Behold how He loved them."   Yes, His melted and poured out heart of love was for them, as truly as for me!

     Yes, to be clothed with this Calvary love, "which is the bond of perfection," (Colossians 3:14) is the need of all our churches.   Even in Christian homes, it is the supreme need today.   With this love truly lighting all our homes and churches, what a different world we would have to live in.

     But one cries, how, oh how, can this be true in my life?   I would give worlds for it!   The answer is always the same, death, death!   We must sink ourselves out of sight, in the wounds of our Lord, and live a daily death with Him and in Him, (II Corinthians 4:10) "Being made conformable unto His death."   Then Calvary's love fountain will break forth from our lives.   As we live this crucified life with Him, no power on earth can check this overflow of love to and for our brethren.

     Moreover, as we stand before dying men and women, we shall be powerless to save them, except as we see them in the light of the cross.   We must feel, out of the depth of a Calvary heart--here are men and women Christ loved unto death.   No price can be put on them.   The blood of the Son of God is beyond price.   Until we get a vision of them, in the fountain of the love of Calvary, and our hearts are broken for them, we need to go alone and sink down deeper into the dying love of Christ, on the cross.   Oh! the glory, the beauty, the graciousness of men, as we see them in the light of this Heaven-born, pressed-out love.

     "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Galatians 6:14)

     Bodine Baptist Church, Elder Joe C. Hocking, Pastor, is having an Independent Baptist Mission Colloquium, March 10 & 11th, 2011.   The Colloquium's focus will be:   Mission Work - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.   The program will begin Thursday evening, March 10th, at 5:30 p.m., with a delicious Oklahoma supper.   The services will start at 7 p.m.

     Friday, March 11th, will begin with a light breakfast served at 8:00 a.m.   Morning services will begin at 9:00 a.m.   A panel discussion led by missionaries either on deputation or on furlough will be at 10:30 a.m.   Lunch will be served at noon.   Afternoon services will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by a panel discussion led by pastors at 2:30 p.m.   A scrumptious Oklahoma supper will be served at 5:00 p.m. and evening services will follow at 7:00 p.m.

     If you plan to attend, and we hope you will, please R.S.V.P. to annex_bbc@coxinet.net by March 3, 2011.

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     Pastor Leroy Goodman got confirmation today that we will have a collection of antique Bibles at our Church's Bible Conference.   There will be a 1559 Geneva Bible, a Tyndale New Testament, a 1613 King James Bible, and Many others.

Letters To The Editor

     Folks if you want to respond to something you have read in "Baptist Landmarks" please E-Mail your response to edit@BaptistLandmarks.org   Your response will be printed here.

     I would like to have a cartoon in each issue if possible.   If there is someone reading this paper who can draw cartoons that will cause us to laugh at the foolish things we sometimes do and cause us to think of how we could better serve our Savior, please E-Mail me and let me know.

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