Symbols

We live in the province of Kalasin, Thailand. One of the symbols of the province is the dinosaur. The reason for this is that in the northern part of the province they have found lots of dinosaur fossils.

Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum in Kalasin

So you can find statues or symbols of dinosaurs all over the place.

Not waiting to find out if they really are herbivores

Dinosaurs are surprisingly mobile. At this rate they should be taking over Thailand soon.

Dinosaurs invading the city of Kalasin

Some dinosaurs like to hang around coffee shops.

Dinosaur coming to steal my coffee

Dinosaur giving rides while we wait for out coffee

Earlier this week we found a dinosaur that had been trained to ring a gong.

Kalasin's trained dinosaurs

We humans like to use symbols. They can be an easy way to express the essence of something or even our emotions (emojis).

Emojis as symbols of feelings

Symbols can be powerful tools for making something easy to recognize—like the golden arches at McDonalds or the donkeys and elephants used to represent political parties in the USA. Back when we lived in Haiti, we happened to be there for their first democratic elections, ever. The ballots had the names of the candidates, their photograph and a symbol for their party. Even the illiterate people could recognize the symbols.

Haitian Election Ballot from 1992

For centuries now, the symbol for Christianity has been a cross. It is almost trivialized now, but in its day, the cross would be recognized as a brutal form of execution. Using a cross as a symbol is akin to using a gallows or guillotine, which makes it a really odd symbol. But it makes sense when you think that Jesus taught that the way to life is through death. Jesus died for our sins on the cross to secure our salvation. But He didn't stay dead. First came death, then the resurrection.

The Cross as a symbol of Christianity

Jesus, looking ahead to His crucifixion, wrote,

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:23-26 (ESV)

But Jesus wasn't just saying this about Himself. Whoever, He says, loves his life will lose it. Dying is the way to a life of fruitfulness.

Paul also writes about this. In Romans 8:13 (ESV) we read: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." And again in Colossians 3:5 (ESV) "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

The challenge with symbols is that after a while the symbol becomes more important than what it is supposed to represent. The cross becomes merely a fashion statement or a religious symbol rather than showing one's desire to die to self or even even die for one's faith. Some, ironically, complain when governments try to remove our cross symbols from public places. When someone wants to remove a sign that should say we are willing to suffer for our faith, we complain and can become belligerent even to the point of being obnoxious, even though we aren't actually suffering. We are very unlike the first century Christians who rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. (Acts 5:41)

When Jesus said we should be willing to take up our cross, I don't think he had in mind a piece of jewelry strung around our neck or a symbol erected on top of a building.

The cross is a reminder that we are strangers and exiles on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13) We are willing to die to the things of this world because we are looking forward to a better one. We read in Hebrews 11:35 (ESV): Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

I've found that this cross thing is not always easy. Sometimes I get to a place where I have to choose gratifying my human desires or pleasing God. At other times I have to choose between responding to situations according to the wisdom and ways of this world or according to the ways of the Kingdom of God. I don't always get it right.

We read James 3:15-17 (The Voice translation): The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom; it originates below in the earthly realms, with the demons. Any place where you find jealousy and selfish ambition, you will discover chaos and evil thriving under its rule. Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy.

God, when I see the symbol of a cross, help me to remember that not only did Jesus die on the cross for my sins, but also that He called us to be willing to die to the things of this world for the sake of His kingdom