PLEASURE, POWER, or PEACE?

I always thought it was cool to wear my cross around my neck.  With an expensive chain and gold cross pendant, wearing my cross never seemed more natural and fashionable…..So I thought!And over time because of pride, a noose replaced my gold chain and gold cross. This noose, I made on my own and placed around my own neck unaware. This noose never bothered me before, but suddenly I found myself at the gallows and all within the blink of an eye. And it was in that position of devastation where I slowly walked past an old wooden cross and up to the trap-door floor and waited for the Judge to pull the lever to my demise. A demise I had deserved. But then, as many watched and waited for the execution to take place, the Judge left the lever and slowly approached me.  And to everybody’s surprise and confusion, He removed the noose from around my neck and placed it on Himself.  Some in the crowd gasped in shock, many were silent in amazement, but plenty were angry that justice in their eyes was not being served.Then He turned to the crowd and said, “He who is without sin among you, pull the lever.”  Nobody could answer His statement nor could they figure out what just happened, so the onlookers slowly turned and left.  And then as they left, so did my pain and shame. I could not understand or believe this and I stood stunned face to face with my Judge, who had graciously just became my Justifier.He then presented me with three options: “Son of mine, pick one:  take your gold chain and cross back, take the noose back, or take this here wooden cross on your back. Choose wisely!  Option one leads to pleasure, option two leads to power, and option three leads to peace. Which one do you choose?”I could not understand, but option one made the most sense and was the most comfortable to me. Yet still with curiosity, I asked about option two, “How is it that I will have power if I take my noose back?” The Judge replied, “The noose can be used as you see fit. When on your neck it gives someone else power, but while in your hands, you control whose neck it shall find rest on for judgement. My son, this option will bring you power and control, however, I cannot tell you much more though and you must find out for yourself.  Choose wisely!”I was then left with an inner struggle and everything was happening so fast.  'Why me?  Why can’t I live on like I was before? But was that really living?  And who was this Judge?'  Still, my emotions were running rampant and with this newfound liberty, I weighed these options. 'The gold chain and gold cross would give me back the world.  The noose, though it would bring back bad memories, would bring back control. Then there was the wooden cross--How could peace come from bearing that on my back?  And why would the Judge have saved my life from myself only to give me back my life to myself?'And as I looked up for extra counsel, I watched as the Judge, who had just saved my life, picked up another wooden cross and placed it on His back. Still with my noose around His neck, He turned to me and said, “If you desire to come after Me, you must deny yourself, and take up your wooden cross, and follow me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”‘Wouldn’t that be painful?’ I wondered within.  But He continued by saying, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will you give in exchange for your soul?”  (Matthew 16:24-26)My soul! Then it hit me and I realized what had just taken place before my very eyes. I almost lost my soul. How could I have been so foolish!  He, who should have pulled the lever on my life decided to take my noose from me and still chose to carry His own cross for me. It was then that I ‘came to myself’ and turned to answer… “My God and My Savior!”  I cried…but He was gone and all that remained was a gold chain with a gold cross, my noose, this old wooden cross, and His words in my heart, “Peace I leave with you. Choose Wisely My Son.”It’s one thing to wear it on your neck…but a real man bears it on his back!  Pleasure, Power, or Peace – which one do you choose? I choose my wooden cross.