The Savior never instructed anyone with this understanding: the idea of needing or using a physical object of any kind in worshipping Him. He in fact forbids such.
It simply does not matter what graven image, what physical idol is depicted – God will not be worshipped via any physical object. It’s only the religious who are not born again, who attempt such.
Those who have a personal relationship with the risen Savior need no physical reminder. He’s their hope, dwells in them by His Holy Spirit, the love of God, and they hear His voice (John 10; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 1 John 4:24, etc.).
There is no power in a cross – including the actual literal pieces of wood Jesus died upon 2,000 years ago, much less in some trinket you carry around like a good luck charm. Jesus told us that “ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18).
Anyone can carry a physical good-luck-charm idol around. Most don’t want to die to self though as Jesus requires in order to follow Him (John 3:19-21). Jesus conquered death, sin, and Satan by dying, and we must also as we are “crucified with Christ” (Hebrews 2:14; Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6).
Jesus Christ didn’t come die on a cross and rise again from the dead so that His people could remember Him by a little piece of wood, a good luck charm they carried. Such is condemned in Holy Scripture.
To say someone should carry around a physical object to remember Christ would be like saying one should wear a shirt with a picture of his dad on it while he’s away from his dad in order to remember his dad. Ludicrous. One might say “But Jesus died and He’s away for now…..” 1. Jesus never told you to carry a wooden cross around your neck or in your pocket to remember Him. 2. He told you to repent…… deny self and take up the cross to follow Him – and this begins with surrendering your life to Him, confessing you are a guilty sinner and receiving Christ as the LORD of your life (Luke 9:23-24; John 1:12; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10, 13). 3. Jesus is alive – always has been and always will be. He rose from the dead after being buried for 3 days. He’s reigning as the Great Intercessor at the right hand of His Father in Heaven (Hebrews 7:24-26).
The love of God in Christ is shed abroad in the hearts of God’s people. They need no reminder of such because they are known of Him – born again into Christ the LORD.
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5
To those who truly know the risen Savior, their hearts are daily fueled by His Word, by His Holy Spirit in them and not any physical object, token, idol or icon (1 John 3:24).
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9
Wow, hundreds of people liked “The Cross in my Pocket” poem and well over a 100 shared it!
This is clear proof that most people who claim to be Christians, have no clue of the original Gospel. They simply are not saved.
So we are now blessed because we carry a little piece of wood in our pockets and not because of the finished work of the nail-scarred risen Savior who died on the cross once, we buried, and raised again from the dead? Isn’t THAT the Gospel? (Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.) That cross was a one-time altar upon which the Son of God offered that one, final, perfect sacrifice. “It is finished” means the sin debt is “paid in full” by the only One who qualified to do such (John 19:30). The one perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on that cross on Calvary’s hill perfectly satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to justify fallen men. He’s no longer on that cross beloved. He is risen from the dead, is seated at the right hand of His Father in Heaven, making intercession for us and dwells in the heart of each and every person who is His.
Wearing a cross around your neck or carrying a cross- shaped icon in your pocket or purse has nothing to do with following Jesus Christ. In fact it’s a violation of His Word.
If we need a piece of wood in our pocket to “remind” us of Christ who died on that cross, we need to be saved. “Ye must be born again” Jesus says. There is no Scripture or New Testament example of Jesus or His holy apostles or the earliest followers of Jesus using a physical object to supposedly “remember” Christ. If we are born of God we are new creatures in Christ, old things are passed away, and all things are of God (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). So, He has given us the miracle of regeneration and we are consumed with the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ (Romans 5:5).
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3
There is no power in a piece of wood, even though Jesus died “once” on a wooden cross. The power is in Christ, not anything physical.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:18
“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:27
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12
“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:26
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10
Notice what Jesus says about “all power” and how it’s in HIM. He says nothing here or anywhere about carrying some physical object to remind you of Him. Such idolatry is only for those who do not know Him.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18
There’s no power in a piece of wood, even if it’s in the shape of a cross. “ALL power” is in the risen Savior Himself – Christ the LORD.
When Jesus spoke through His apostle Paul of remembering Him, He spoke of the cross He “once” – “one time” died upon for our sins (1 Corinthians 11).
Carrying an icon is a cheap counterfeit of knowing the Lamb of God. The cross Jesus commanded we take up is not carrying a little icon in our pockets (Luke 9:23-24). The cross itself has no value. It was merely the altar upon which the Son of God died for the sins of the world. This would be like saying we need to get a tattoo with the name or image of a now dead relative as if their memory in our hearts and mind wasn’t enough, we need to put their image on our body to remind us. This is all idolatry friends which God forbids in the very first two commandments. Pagan Catholics wear scapulas as if they are good luck charms. But those who are truly born again worship the living LORD “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Jesus says:

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24
Instead of having to be reminded of the cross as your hand goes into your pocket, memorize and meditate upon the many Scriptures of the cross of Christ and the one He commanded you to take up in following Him (Colossians 1:20; Galatians 2:20; Luke 9:23-24, etc.).
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” Exodus 20:3-5
It doesn’t matter how much you use mere human reasoning to justify this idolatry. God simply forbids being “worshipped” via idols. He will not be and anyone seeking to do such will be excluded from His eternal kingdom as an idolater (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8, etc.).
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:11-17
Conclusion:

Personally, I do not have any imagery at all but rather have chosen to worship the LORD “in spirit and in truth” according to Jesus’ directive which He makes an essential “MUST” (John 4:23-24). This means to worship Him out of our spirit and by His Spirit and according to His truth, which is His written Word. See John 4:23-24; 17:17.
God Himself etches the image of who He is upon the heart of those who are His and thoroughly pour over His Precepts, His words.
Every image or picture, painting of “Jesus” comes from mere sinful mankind who cannot possibly begin to depict the image of an infinite Almighty God. Jesus walked the earth for 3.5 years but we no longer know Him according to the flesh.
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” 2 Corinthians 5:16
Satan has so corrupted the image of the Son of God, his arch enemy. We can only trust God’s Word to inform and reveal to us who HE is. So we get every single iota of our image of God straight from His own mouth, His Word. That’s the way the LORD has chosen to reveal Himself and every other way will inevitably mislead and corrupt His holy image.
His words and pouring over them, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating upon and obeying them is how we are moved by and walk with Jesus and not some false image, painting done by a finite sinner.
Jesus tells us that the Scriptures are what He gave us to reveal Himself to us as we come to Him John 5:39.
“Search the scriptures … they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39
Jesus Teaching on the Cross | Making Peace with God
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Abiding
Modern Day Cult of Personality Exposed [podcast]

What is the Cult of Personality?
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
Beware when you see any mere man enshrined, basically worshipped by his followers. This is all too common in today’s church world and sometimes it’s very subtle. When people begin putting what a mere man says above what God says in His Word, when they quote him instead of the Bible, you know you have a cult.
One source notes:
“A cult of personality, or a cult of the leader, is the result of an effort to create an idealized and heroic image of an admirable leader, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.”‘
CS Lewis has a cult following today, 100%. I’ve encountered it first hand. These people don’t care what you show them as far as the blatant falsehoods he spoke, and have soul tied their affections to him and will defend him no matter what.
A quick search on “what CS Lewis said about the Catholic church”…
“As an Anglican, C.S. Lewis shared many beliefs with the Catholic Church, including the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the necessity of confession, and a belief in Purgatory. However, he explicitly rejected papal authority, the concept of papal infallibility, and certain Marian doctrines.
Shared Beliefs
Lewis held a deeply sacramental and traditional view of Christianity, which aligned closely with Catholic theology:
The Sacraments: He regularly went to confession to a priest and viewed the Eucharist as central to the faith.
The Afterlife: He famously argued that “our souls demand Purgatory”, writing that we would naturally want to be cleansed of our sins before standing in God’s presence.
Devotion: He had a high view of saints and appreciated traditional liturgical practices.”
The same is true for modern day celebrities such as Candace Owens. On a recent live broadcast where she interviewed a man, he showed her live on air, that she was wrong about several things and kindly asked her to apologize several times. Regrettably, Candace was unwilling to apologize, and most of her cult followers backed her up, cheered her on.
She was called to account for false info and didn’t apologize when asked to.
Her followers cheered her on, never stopping to question things.
Their hearts are set on her not Christ (Colossians 3:1-4).
No matter WHAT she says, they believe it.
Wow.
Jesus says:
“I receive not honour from men. … 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” John 5:41, 44
By saying this, Jesus condemns putting trust in any mere man.
Jesus makes it clear here that anyone who puts their heart affections in a mere man or woman, is unable to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ for eternal life.
“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:6-7
“4:6 He first explains that in speaking about the Christian ministry and the tendency to follow human leaders (3:5-4:5), he used himself and Apollos as the examples. The Corinthians were not forming parties around Paul and Apollos alone, but also around other men who were then in their church. However, out of a sense of Christian courtesy and delicacy, Paul transferred the entire matter to himself and Apollos so that by their example the saints would learn not to have exaggerated opinions of their leaders or to gratify their pride by the formation of parties. He wanted the saints to evaluate everything and everyone by the Scriptures.
4:7 If one Christian teacher is more gifted than another, it is because God made him so. Everything he has, he received from the Lord. In fact it is true of all of us that everything we have has been given to us by God. That being the case, why should we be proud or puffed up? Our talents and gifts are not the result of our own cleverness.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.” John 8:37
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Psalms 139:4-5
“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5
“that no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
“2:5 Paul knew that there was the utmost danger that his hearers might be interested in himself or in his own personality rather than in the living Lord. Conscious of his own inability to bless or to save, he determined that he would lead men to trust in God alone rather than in the wisdom of men. All who proclaim the gospel message or teach the word of God should make this their constant aim.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” Psalms 17:2
“Sentence” here means verdict.
Prayer of Repentance to be Restored to the LORD: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ and by His precious blood He shed to make me one with You, I come to you—in my sinful state. LORD, I openly acknowledge that I have departed from You and sinfully rebelled against You in the sin of idolatry. Right this moment, if never before, I call upon You, Holy Father, asking You to forgive my sins, to change my life, to break me to the core of my being. I fully believe that Jesus Christ is God Almighty, that He came in the flesh, lived a sinless life as the very only begotten Son of God, died on the cross for the sins of mankind, was buried, rose again from the dead, and is soon going to return! I love You my LORD Jesus and from this moment forward, I am all Yours! I will follow You according to Your Word and Holy Spirit. Please fill me with Your Holy Ghost and use me every day of my life that You grant! In Jesus’ name, amen!
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Abiding
The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]

“Hid with Christ in God”
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
The safest place in the universe is in the cross of Christ: “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Our place of protection is in the love walk with the LORD where we express our love for Him in obedience to Him. Jesus commanded that we deny self, take up the cross daily and follow Him. We are full of troubles and so it should be easy to relinquish all to Him!
“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:1
In Christ alone is our rest from the toil of this life.
“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalms 17:4
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, please bring me to the end of sinful self. Rebuke and remove the foolishness of this heart! I love You LORD and thank You that I am crucified with You today and that You are raising up this life for Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Abiding
“I Will Uphold Thee with the Right Hand of My Righteousness” [podcast]

One source notes:
“‘I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness’ is a famous promise from the Bible found in Isaiah 41:10 (KJB). It is a comforting verse offering reassurance against fear, with ‘the right hand of my righteousness’ symbolizing God’s divine power, justice, and support.”
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Help Me Jesus!
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. … For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isaiah 41:10, 13
“When we are in the fire of affliction it’s easy to feel afraid and wonder if God is there. Many of the great men of the Bible became discouraged and broken. But the secret was they took it to God in all honesty! In Job 3 he expressed a desire to die. But yet he said in Job 19:25 ‘For I know my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:’ David said in Psalm 56:9 ‘When I cry into thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.’ And we know Jeremiah, Jonah, Elijah, etc. all had moments of despair and suffering, but the Lord continued to uphold and encourage them. Their faith did not waver even in the midst of doubt and confusion!” Karen Cochran
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
“in thy presence is fulness of joy”
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11
“at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”
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