A song we sometimes sing has a clause in the first stanza that often penetrates our heart with piercing pain. The first stanza reads like this:

Think about it! "Caring not my Lord was crucified."

When we in deep and penetrating thought stand "at the foot of the cross," really comprehending what occurred there, the terrible, terrible pain Jesus willingly endured, the nerves in our own body cause us to cringe! The thought of the penetration of those large iron nails alone is almost unbearable. Then to think about the hours of searing pain--we would shrink back from the thought of even a dog being so treated! But this happened to our Savior, God who became man in order to so suffer that we might be rescued from wrath, escaping eternity in hell. What love beyond comparison (cf. Romans 5:6-8).

Then, suddenly returning in thought to where we are and what we are doing (how we are living and conducting ourselves), our consciences burn with the realization that all too often we are "caring not my Lord was crucified." What shame! What a thoughtless and unthankful people we can become!

After we revitalized our own lives, renewing our spiritual commitments and determining to be a dedicated Christians, then in thought we view and grieve the carelessness of so many, many people who live day after day with little or no concern as to why Jesus had to suffer so terribly on that cross. They are far more concerned about and interested in the "cares and riches and pleasures of this life" (cf. Luke 8:12-14), caring not the Lord was crucified for them. "Church" (if you will let me use that term) is of little (if any) interest to them. Schedules will be arranged, rearranged and manipulated for employment, recreation, personal reasons, etc., but not for "church." "Church" comes only when convenient (and very convenient at that)--no stress or strain--after the lawn is mowed, the house is cleaned, the company is entertained, etc. How sad to see them so treat the terrible suffering, the excruciating pain that Jesus endured on that awful cross--all that through his sacrificial death they might escape the wrath coming upon all unredeemed humanity.

When individuals so live caring not that Jesus was crucified, they are, as Paul wrote, "... treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5 NKJV). What a sad thought: One might "treasure up" a bank account but while so doing will "treasure up" wrath at the same time! Why stand in personal jeopardy every hour, caring not that Jesus was crucified? Obtain the peace God has made "through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20).

How terrible is the consequence of a father and mother who are rearing children while caring not that Jesus was crucified. The spiritual training of children beginning with their earliest years is so very crucial because then is when their thought patterns are set for life. Even with the best of spiritual training, children really struggle to shun immorality and maintain spirituality as they deal with peer pressure, advance in academics and approach adulthood. A dad and mom who are caring not that Jesus was crucified really are caring not about the spiritual and eternal welfare of their children! What in this whole wide world is more important than the eternal welfare of our children? What is more urgent?!

Turn away from the apathy of "caring not my Lord was crucified"--now, today!