The Old Rugged Cross

This morning at 7am, Sarah's dear father, Joe Collins, succumbed to the cancer in his body and passed from this life in to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. His wife, Diana was by his side along with other close family and friends. There is so much that could be said about this wonderful, God-honoring man who was cherished by so many. We will certainly miss Joe, but are also relieved that his suffering is over and rejoice that he is now in heaven. Although our grief is great, how much greater is the hope & promise that we have!

One of Joe's favorite hymns was The Old Rugged Cross. It is a song that most of us know or at least have heard before. For me, it's easy to sometimes sing these familiar songs on auto-pilot, without giving much thought to what I'm saying. I was looking at the lyrics this morning with a different perspective and wanted to post them here for all to see. It is bittersweet whenever someone you love dies and they are a believer in Christ. The words below help me remember what life is really about and the glory that is to come for those who follow Jesus!


On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

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.

O 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.