Underneath the veneer of civilization is the monstrosity that only the cross of Jesus Christ could kill.

Have you realized the monstrosity of your sin? Have I? When the conditions are reasonable, we can be civil with each other. I don’t hurt you. You don’t hurt me. However, when the conditions deteriorate, when our very survival is threatened, our animal instincts come out, ruthlessly scraping that veneer of civilization exposing the monster within.

I’m reading Ellie Wiezel’s book ‘Night’. I have just finished reading Anne Frank’s Diary. Many Jews during WWII were incredulous as to what their ears heard. There were “mad” men spreading “rumors” that the Nazis were tossing babies,  women, and the elderlies into the gas chambers and mass graves. That couldn’t possibly be true, many thought. Who would do such a thing? How could anyone think of exterminating an entire nation?

But it was true. 6 million Jews were dead. And many more in the world at the hands of the mad men led by Satan himself. Hitler was a puppet given into that murderous hatred lodged by Satan himself. But Hitler is not unique in this. He was a sinner just like us. The monster that lived in Hitler also lives in us.

The only thing that is powerful enough to kill that monster is the cross of Jesus Christ. That is why the cross was so cruel. What else could possibly deal with a sin that was so dastardly as to hang little boys and girls on the gallows until their little bodies stopped twitching…?

Jesus saw the monster within us. He was not surprised by the cruelty of Nazism. Nor is He by the mass shootings, racism, hatred that are so rampant in the world. His cross is strong enough to deal with all of it!

Would you overcome what Christ has overcome for you?

“The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” Rev. 2:11

Conquer your sin. Conquer your anger. Conquer your lust. Conquer your greed. Conquer your hatred. For Christ has conquered it. When you fail, try and try again. Make war against that monster within. Keep killing it until Christ kills it for good!

PH