“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV).
On September 27, 2025, residents of Washington County, Tennessee, gathered for the first anniversary of Helene. People shared a meal, had a worship service, and closed out the evening by floating candles down the Nolichucky River. Things certainly are different a year later. The recovery efforts have been amazing; however, there is much left to accomplish. We didn’t call this event a party or even a celebration. It was named “A Day when Reflection Gives Way to Hope.”
We wanted the remembrance to be centered around God’s sovereignty even in difficult times. The pastor that evening made sure that the cross of Christ was at the heart of his message. He told a story of how a man had lost every material thing he owned to the flood, but his faith in God had remained steadfast. Over this past year, the gentleman has been making crosses out of scrap lumber that was piled up and down the riverbanks. His message was that Jesus’ death on the cross was what truly matters in life. He shared these words, “through what we perceive as ruin, ushers us to the threshold of redemption.”
The central symbol of Christianity is the cross of Christ. For true believers in Jesus, the cross is a symbol of redemption, love, and victory over death, hell, and the grave. (See 1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
The turning point of human history was the crucifixion of Jesus. On the cross, Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of redemption..
What occurred was prophesied in the Old Testament, and we see the fulfillment in the New Testament. Thank God for His love, justice, and grace.
John writes about this love when he penned, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16, (NKJV). I would say this verse is very familiar to most people and certainly at the heart of faith in Christ.
The phrase “gave His only Son” illustrates the plan that God had in place.
The Lord healed and taught while He was on this earth. However, He was the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus’ death at Calvary delivered salvation.
Christ was the propitiation for our sin: 1 John 2:2 (NKJV). Praise be to God! He took our place.
The homemade cross made by the man affected by the flood inspired us to have some smaller ones made. We asked around, and a couple of guys said they would produce five hundred twenty-five for the event we were hosting. As people entered the venue, we shared with them that we had a gift for them. The cross of Christ, whether carried in a pocket or placed on a shelf, would always serve as a reminder. This is a reminder for everyone about our foundation, Jesus, as stated in Ephesians 2:19-22.
Jeremy Dyke – CBC Executive Board
