Not long ago, I talked to a family about one of their members who had passed away.  Let’s call him Dave.  I took some good notes, as I would conduct the service in a few days.  Our 45-minute conversation was almost done when his brother said, “Oh, remember how Dave solve the Rubik’s cube?”

Everyone nodded in agreement as they reminisced about a fond a memory, and I just smiled and added one more note in my iPad document.  The next day as I poured over my notes, I looked for one thing in particular: a transition to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

In the Rubik’s cube story, I had my bridge but didn’t know it at the time.

As I researched solutions to this 3D puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik, I discovered a common theme for one strategy: begin by making a cross on one side with the color of the middle square.

Isn’t that interesting.

Once the cross is in place, you are on your way to the solution quicker than the April weather in Michigan can change.  (As I write this on April 15th, the predicted low tonight is 28.)

Life is like a puzzle, and questions abound as we face the twists and turns in life: Who am I?  Why am I here?  What is my purpose?  Is there a God?  Is there life after this brief stay on earth?  Does anyone truly love me?

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The cross leads us to salvation. It leads us to grace. It leads us to peace in this life.  It answers many of our deep questions:

Can anything good come out of all the evil in the world?

With all the suffering I have experienced in life, does God really love me?

Am I good enough to get to heaven?

What is the way to heaven?

What should I do to live for Jesus?

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me’ ” (Matthew 16:24).

Start with the cross.  Life then makes the most sense — just like the Rubik’s cube solution.