Fox News reports that the property where the Albany Hill Cross, a 28-foot illuminated steel and plexiglass structure built on private property and overlooking the City of Albany (and the San Francisco Bay area) for more than 50 years, was sold to the City of Albany, California, for a public park. A property easement was granted to the original owners, the Albany Lions Club (“ALC”), allowing for maintenance of the cross.
After a local atheist group complained about the religious symbol, a federal judge ruled that the cross violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the Albany City Council subsequently acquired the easement through eminent domain and tore down the cross.
To end the continuing litigation, the City of Albany announced a judge’s approval of a stipulated agreement during its October 7, 2024 council meeting that settled the matter by paying the Albany Lions Club (“ALC”) $1,530,000 in exchange for legal title to the entirety of the property where the cross was located prior to the city’s decision to use eminent domain to strip ALC’s property easement and subsequently tear down the cross.
The Fox News article may be read in full HERE.
My brothers and sisters, when a city government is willing to litigate for years and pay an exorbitant amount of money to justify pulling down the display of a cross signifying the blessing that is Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross and the forgiveness of our sin, it speaks volumes about the hearts of those in agreement.
So many are spiritually dead and blinded to the truth of the gospel, and specifically the propitiation for our sin through Jesus’ crucifixion and death which leads to eternal life! They lean on the wisdom of man and consider the power of cross to be foolishness.
The bible tells us that those who are perishing consider the message of the cross to be foolishness:
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God [emphasis mine].”
Lord have mercy!
We do not seek retribution for those in Albany who support the atheists cheering on the removal of the cross, but rather, we ask for the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts, causing their eyes to be opened to the truth, that they would come unto salvation through Jesus Christ!
The bible makes it clear that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that He is the ONLY way by which man can be saved:
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him [emphasis mine] might be saved.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me [emphasis mine].’”
Acts 4:12 (Amplified Bible)
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”