Where Freedom Comes From

Old Rugged Cross

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
   The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
   And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
   For a world of lost sinners was slain.
   • Refrain:
     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 some day for a crown.
2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
   Has a wondrous attraction for me;
   For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
   To bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
   A wondrous beauty I see,
   For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
   To pardon and sanctify me.
4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
   Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
   Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
   Where His glory forever I’ll share.
   
   
   I personally think a strong argument could be made that The Old Rugged Cross is one of the best hymns ever written.  The refrain is gripping.  To understand fully the refrain it is important to look at the man who penned it.  The author, George Bennard, came from extremely humble beginnings.  He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, shortly after the end of the Civil War.  His father worked hard as a coal miner in Iowa.  As a young person George met Christ personally.  The local Salvation Army had Bible teachings and George had heard of them, but had never attended a meeting.  His curiosity got the best of him and one day he walked five miles to hear the teaching.  On that day he became a devoted follower of Jesus.  He had plans!  Big plans!  He was going to go to theology school.
   
   
   What happened instead was very tragic.  His father was killed in a mining accident.  George was now the man of the house and had to put all his dreams on hold to take care of his mother and siblings.  He worked all day and studied books on his own at night.  When his responsibilities lessened he went to Chicago to work at the Salvation Army.  He met his wife in the city and she also assisted in his ministry at the Salvation Army.  He then became a traveling evangelist and became ordained in the Methodist Episcopal church.  George came upon a very difficult time in his ministry.  I couldn't find any sources that gave any more details.  Suffice it to say, he probably became worn out spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He began praying that the Lord would show him a full understanding of the Cross.  Pastor Bennard later said he felt as if the words from John 3:16 jumped off the page and began acting out the meaning of Redemption.  While he watched the scene with his mind's eye the theme came to him.   Over the next few months as he travel he would work on the song lyrics.  It wasn't ready to present to anyone yet I'm sure he thought.  When the song was finally completed to his satisfaction he sang to some friends.  Immediately they were moved by the chords.  They paid for it to be published.  The rest is history.
   
   
   How would a difficult time lead to his penning such incredible words?  I think the refrain says so much.  Since we know Pastor Bennard was feeling such pain and burden we can make even more sense of the words of the refrain.  No matter our circumstances we must cherish the cross.  The word cherish goes beyond like and even love.  To me the word cherish has more feeling, more emotion.  To cherish something (or someone) means to hold it dear, to protect and care for.  Do I think of the cross as something I cherish?  Of course I don't mean the actual wood, but rather what it signifies.  I believe the reason why the cross wood was never found is because people would cherish the wood itself.  It would be worshipped by some.  Interestingly enough I just read where a part of the cross was possibly located in a chest buried at an ancient church.  Anyway, I want to hold dear what happened on the cross.  After all it happened for me.  The cross signifies reunion and freedom.  No matter our circumstances we can hold what happened on the cross dear.  Even when it doesn't feel like He loves us we can look to the cross and know He does.
   
   

   "Till my trophies at last I lay down," means until that day when I meet Jesus face to face.  We all have so many trophies.  I know I do.  Success, that's a trophy.  Health, is yet another trophy.  Having popular, smart, athletic, perfect children (according to others at least) is a big trophy.  Our cars are trophies as are our homes.  Being able to take fancy vacations is a trophy.  Having a certain size of clothes in the closet is a trophy.  Being "happy" is a trophy.  After all isn't that what life is all about!? Even doing Godly things can be trophies.  Maybe you run a great non-profit, or go on mission trips, or are on the worship team at church.  Romans 14:11 says, "'As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me;  every tongue will acknowledge God.'"  On that day EVERY trophy you and I have will be laid down.  I believe this concept gave Pastor Bennard perspective.
   

   Years ago I bought Dave a beautiful painting as a gift.  The artwork has hung in a predominant place in every house we have lived in.  It is a picture of a stormy ocean.  The sky is dark and the water is extremely rough and scary looking.  Floating out in the water is an old wooden cross and a man clinging to it.  What a picture if life it is.  "I will cling to the old rugged cross," writes Pastor Bennard.  No matter the trials that come we have to desperately cling to the cross.  What does clinging to the cross mean in real life?  How is it applicable?  It means to completely accept the power of the cross and all its greatness.  For me clinging to the cross has meant leaning hard into God as I endure pain, loss, frustration, and discouragement.  To cling to something also means to embrace it with force and to hold on to it with all your might.  Clinging to the cross of Jesus is a word picture for holding onto God's promises and what they mean for our personal good and God's glory.  There have been days when I have felt so miserable physically and quite frankly extremely frustrated with God that my good reason left me.  I clung to His promises which is, essentially, clinging to the cross.  Here are some of my go-to verses.
5.  

   Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

   
   

   Romans 8:26). In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

   
   

   Romans 8:28). And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

   
   In the end we are to be heaven minded.  That is a difficult mind set to have when we can't see through the woods.  What good does it do to look towards heaven when I am suffering so much now?  It helps because it gives us perspective.  One day every treasure we have AND every pain will be traded for a heaven.  All authentic followers of Jesus Christ WILL exchange everything for a crown.  One day I will hear, "well done good and faithful servant."

   
   In closing, I hope this old hymn has taken on a new and fresh meaning for you.  I know it has for me.  Hymns hold a special place in my heart.  Please let me know how I can pray for you or what this blog means to you.