There's Room at the Cross for All

John Bunyan’s classic story of Pilgrim’s Progress describes Pilgrim toiling along on a lonely highway bounded on both sides by a stone wall. The burden of the heavy sack carried by Pilgrim bends his back low as he trudges forward. His load being large and heavy; his steps become slow and painful.

Finally; Pilgrim reaches the top of the hill, only to find his way blocked by a cross. As Pilgrim gazes at the large cross a strange thing happens. He stares in amazement as his heavy load slowly slips from his back and rolls backward down the hill.

 At the cross, Pilgrim discovers forgiveness and relief from his heavy burden of sin and guilt He goes on his way quickly, filled with great joy. Soon, he begins to sing:

Blest cross: Blest sepulcher. Best rather be

The man that there was put to shame for me.

Bishop McDowell once told a large gathering, “I would not go across the street to give India a new theology, India now has more theology than it can understand, or to give China a new code of ethics, China has a vastly better ethical code than ethical life, or to give Japanese a religious literature, Japan now has a better religious literature than religious life. But I would go across the world again and again, if it pleased God, to tell India and China and Africa of my experience at the cross.”

The cross expressed God’s word of caring concern; He so loved that he forgave. It is the character of God the Father to forgive. It is the way of Christ to forgive. It was from the cross Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” For Americans and for Africans, for Jews and for Arabs, the word is the same. The word of forgiveness is a password to powerful living; it is the word that our literate society yet finds in great shortfall.

How hardly man this lesson earns,

To smile and bless the hand that spurns,

To see the blow, to feel the pain,

To render only love again,

One had it—but He came from heaven,

Reviled, rejected, and betrayed;

No curse He breathed, no plaint He made,

But when in death’s dark pang He sighed,

Prayed for His murderers, and died.         

(Unknown)

Ira Stanphill wrote the lyrics and music to this beloved Gospel song, "Room At The Cross For You"

The cross upon which Jesus died

Is a shelter in which we can hide;
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.

Refrain:
There's room at the cross for you
There's room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there's still room for one
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.

Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned;
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it's too late.

The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long;
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.

Refrain:
There's room at the cross for you
There's room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there's still room for one
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.

This is walkingwithwarner, 

at that place where we all kneel on level ground.