How many crosses?

How many crosses will it take
To counter all my sin?
How many crosses on the wall
To make me good enough?
How many crosses, row on row,
To make me a real saint?

Can they be little, or must they be big?
Can they be wooden, or must they be gold?

How many crosses will it take?
A few? A whole house full?
How many crosses? Lord, I know.
You died on only one.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14

Poem by Jim Swindle, and bible verse quoted are from the blog Vine and Fig: Poems and Comments for the Lord.

Even as an Orthodox Christian who has a cross or two hung up in my house, and maybe a dozen ikons, I cringe when I see displays of crosses such as those in the image that accompanied this excellent poem.

I think perhaps I have never forgiven myself for not taking the Cross seriously when I was a new Christian, and that's why I removed the cross I used to wear around my neck (and which all Orthodox Christians are supposed to wear).

Even the crosses I have hung at home, one very small one on the front door of my house, for example, are there to remind me how unchristlike I can be in not welcoming everyone as I should. The Cross of Jesus stands between me and my sin, as a testimony against me, but more importantly, as a testimony to His forgiveness.

I want to follow Jesus on the way of the Cross, but my flesh wants to wear the Cross but not bear it, and so, as a witness against myself, I have taken off my cross, to remind myself that I am no different from every man, even the unsaved: I no less than the next guy am a sinner, and lost, without Jesus.

And His Cross is too big for me to wear, but with His grace not too heavy for me to bear, if only I would. He laid down His life for me, and so I hope to always be willing to lay down my life for my brothers. John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16 go together. And by grace alone, which is alone sufficient, I can do all through Christ who lives in me, by faith (Philippians 4:13, Galatians 2:20).