By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
Somewhere you have probably heard this quote from Napoleon:
“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”
I do not think anyone would now die for Alexander or Caesar or for Napoleon.
But, the French leader was correct—millions of Christians “die daily.”
Many of these ‘deaths’ relate to sacrifices made on behalf of Christ.
Some…….to be very sure—are literal, physical deaths for the cause of Christ.
His message of love overpowered the most powerful.
His message of meekness conquered the strong.
His message of grace transformed injustices into manifestations of God’s working.
People have literally been changed into new creations because of the love of Jesus.
Romans 5:8 must stand as the bulwark of God’s working:
“But God demonstrated His love toward us IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS—Christ died for us.”
He did not ask us to clean up our act or go to church or do anything…He simply loved.
Who loves the ‘worst of these?’
Who loves their enemies?
Who loves those with whom they disagree?
But that is exactly what Jesus did for you and me and all who call Him by name.
My wife has a cousin who has lived out the ideals of Jesus in vivid ways.
Born and raised in Canada—he attended Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago.
He had to do a practical Christian service so…he chose one in Cabrini-Green.
Yeah…..’that Cabrini-Green.’
When he first went there, he would have glass bottles shattering around him.
Looking up—he realized that people were throwing them at him from above.
He came to find out that a white man there was either a policeman or drug dealer.
Why else would a white man be found in this notorious housing project?
He kept going—doing a Bible study for children.
Over time—he became consistently well-known and respected.
The word got out from drug dealers and gang leaders that if anyone hurt Dan…well.
We would visit Dan and walk with him in downtown Chicago.
We would not get far until someone stopped ‘brother Moses’ {he had quite a beard}.
He was the first white person to apply for housing in Cabrini-Green.
His reasoning—if he was going to reach the people there, he needed to be with them there.
Was that not the same reasoning as Jesus?
To reach us—He had to be with us. And, in being with us—He brought a revolution of love.