Under the reign of Emperor Valerian Rome again induced into a phase of vigorous persecution of Christians during the years between 253 and 260. In the city of Rome lived it's governor, Marcianus, who followed the ruling and verdicts of Valerian to a T. He blissfully killed Christian leaders without a second thought, after all, Marcianus was concerned with one thing and one thing only.
Drachma. Coin. Benjamins. Money. You get it.
It consumed him, ate him up, night and day thinking and pondering, scheming and plotting, planning and obsessing just how to gain more financial clout.
By word of mouth, one fateful day, Marcianus heard a legend, an urban myth so to say, that the Christians living in Rome were in possession of many riches. Gold and silver, jewels and cattle, strings of pearl and clothes of purple dye. Marcianus drooled at the thought of such riches, riches which had been under his nose the entire time. He immediately called Lawrence, the distributor of the goods of the church in Rome, to stand before him. It was them that he promptly ordered with a regal gesture and a wicked, unconfined smile, to tell him where all these riches of the church were being held. Lawrence nodded his head and asked the greedy governor to allow him three days to gather all these riches and to bring them before the governor. Marcianus agreed, smacking his gums. For three nights Marcianus waited, his eyes twinkling whenever he thought about all the treasures that were soon to come. He couldn't eat, he could barely sleep, all he could do was consume his daily thoughts with pictures of golden vases, emerald studded statues, and piles upon piles of precious coins.
On the third day, he eagerly ordered Lawrence to stand before him, commanding him to present these riches to him in order that he may take them for himself. Lawrence walked the governor outside his hall and stretched out his arm towards the stairs descending from the great hall.
Beggars, the homeless, the old and the dirty, the decrepit and the blind, the lame and the weak. Hundreds of them. "These are the precious riches of the Church." Lawrence proclaimed proudly "They are the treasure in which faith in Christ reigns, in whom Christ has His dwelling place. What more precious jewel can the church have than those in whom Christ promised to dwell?"
Marcianus raged. He burned. He screamed from the stairs "Light the fire! Do not spare the wood! This villain has tried to deceive the emperor. Away with him! Whip him with scourges, jerk him with hooks, buffet him with fists, bash him with clubs. Does this traitor joke with the emperor? Pinch him with fiery tongs, wrap him in burning plates, bring out the strongest chains, and the fire forks, and the grated bed of iron. Put the bed on the fire and when it is red hot, bind the traitor on it hand and foot and roast him, broil him, toss him, turn him! Torture him every way you can or you will be tormented yourself!"
And they did just that.
For those with little to lose, Christ is such an infinite gain! Just read the Beatitudes of Matthew 5...Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the weak, the meek, the persecuted, the peacemakers...why are they blessed? If anything, they are far from blessed! This standard Christ establishes here is impossible from the start, why...because who wants to be poor in spirit, a mourner, weak or meek, or persecuted? None of us!!! Yet, what reward, what a blessing; to be called children of God, to taste sweet grace, to reach what Pastor Roy calls "your last healing".
Heaven is so near, yet so far. Am I ready for it? Seriously. Am I prepared to see the face of my savior the way I am, caked in the muck and mire that is my sin, my shortcomings, my frailties? Am I prepared to let go of those secret desires and lusts which pervert my very self? Am I willing to make myself poor for His kingdom?
His grace is so good. So very good. Are we truly the riches of His kingdom? Can it be true? Me? Really?!?
I thirst deeply for heaven, I hope you feel the same!!!
Pray often
Love always
Have hope
Oh, and enjoy life! Be joyful! God is too good to us not to rejoice, and again I say, rejoice!
Blake
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment