For the serious Christian, the cross is indispensable. Those who claim that following Jesus makes your life a bed of roses under a rainbow where everyone smiles and becomes rich are liars who dismiss the truth of the Gospel. Jesus says that we are in the world but not of the world. We are called to Heaven. The world and all it holds bears no comparison to the glory we will receive in Heaven. What does Jesus say instead? Pick up your cross and follow after me. Why the cross? Because Jesus transformed suffering into redemption through an act of love. Love transforms the world. Love without the cross is untested, untried love. So pick up your cross today and choose to love through it. When you have a struggle or pain, offer it to Jesus. Pick up your cross and make today an offering of Love. Love is the cross’ lesson.