Dear Christian friends:

Tonight we consider the last of the seven crosses of our Lenten series. And again we thank Mr. Robert Harris for making this beautiful wooden cross for us to study.

This cross is called the Celtic Cross. It is called the Celtic Cross because it was first used by the Celtic Christians in Scotland. It is also called the "Cross of Iona," because it is found made of stone frequently on the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland. Sometimes it is called the "Irish Cross," because Irish missionaries first brought the Gospel to the Celts on the Isle of Iona, St. Patrick brought the Gospel to Ireland from France, and then the Irish missionaries brought it to Scotland, beginning on the Isle of Iona.

The Celtic Cross is also called the Cross of Eternity. Why? Because it has a circle where the cross bars meet. As you know, the circle is the sign we deaf use for the word "always" or "eternal." The circle is also the symbol Christians use for eternal or eternity. So both deaf and hearing people recognize the circle to mean eternity. Eternal or eternity means no beginning and no end. We say that God is eternal because He has no beginning and no end. When we say "eternity," we usually mean heaven. In heaven our life and joy will never end. So when we look at this Cross with the circle on it, we realize quickly that Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross earns eternal life for us. By His death on the cross Jesus won blessings for us, blessings for our life on earth and blessings for our life in heaven.

In our text Jesus says, "This is the way to have eternal life - by knowing You, Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth." (John 17:3) If you know God, you have eternal life. And how can we know God? How do we become friends with God? By knowing His Son, Jesus Christ, the One He sent from heaven to earth. Jesus came from heaven to teach us about His heavenly Father. And what was the chief teaching about the Father? That He is love. (John 3:16) Jesus told the Jewish teacher, Nicodemus, "God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, that anyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life."

Eternal life begins the minute you accept Jesus Christ for your Savior. You have eternal life while you are living here on earth, but it is not yet perfect because we still have troubles, sins, temptations and trials. But when we die we will go to heaven and have perfect eternal life. That is why we often see this Celtic Cross made of stone on the graves in the cemeteries, especially in the British Isles and here in the United States. Christians who know about the Cross of Eternity often put in their wills that they want such a Cross on their grave. This stone Celtic Cross on a grave preaches a powerful sermon to those people who pass by. The dead person still preaches the Good News of Salvation from eternal death. His Celtic Cross on his grave says to the world: "Look: I'm dead now, but I will arise to go into eternal life with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Eternal life in heaven is perfect: no more sin, no more grief or sadness, no more death or separation from loved ones, no more blindness or deafness or old age, but real life, strength, health and great joy and pleasure with God and with Jesus Christ and all His holy people. David writes in the Psalms: "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11)

So, in the future, when you see the Celtic Cross, let it fill your heart with joy and hope for getting eternal life. Also, you maybe should think about having one put on your grave so you can keep on preaching the Good News even while sleeping in your grave.

Amen.