A heavenly perspective

A heavenly perspective

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“If a man hasn’t found something he will die for then he isn’t fit to live”

Martin Luther King

There are different kinds of Martyrs. Martin Luther King campaigned tirelessly in the face of mortal danger for what he believed and eventually paid the ultimate price. Gandhi and Oscar Romero are two others who come to mind. Fortunately for humanity the list is long.

Then there are those who regularly put their lives at risk to serve others; in the emergency services and the armed forces for example. Right now in this pandemic we see doctors, nurses, carers and other front line workers regularly risking their lives. There are many who have given their lives as a result and because of their heroic service many have been saved.

Then there are those who stand up for what they believe in situations where death is inevitable. Again,  many such people. Maximilian Kolbe who took the place of a fellow prisoner in a starvation bunker in 1941 in Auschwitz is but one in recent times.

Then there was Thomas More patron of this blog, who was decapitated on 6th July 1535 for refusing to sign the Oath of Supremacy which essentially meant that he refused to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.

For Christians the greatest sacrifice of all is Jesus’ death on the cross, the greatest symbol of love ever. Jesus of Nazareth Son of God paying the price for sin and reconciling humanity to the Father. Jesus paid a debt he didn’t owe because we had a debt we couldn’t pay. Now the way to God and to Salvation is open to all.   

Out of sacrifice comes new life. Civil rights in America and the recognition that all are born equal is due in large part to civil rights campaign and the leadership of Martin Luther King.

Many lives saved by the sacrifice doctors and nurses in the current pandemic.

And of unique and supreme importance the Resurrection of Jesus Christ opening the way to new life.

Thomas More’s last words were, “I die the Kings good servant but God’s first.”

Have you found something worth dying for?

Listen to, ‘Knowing you Jesus’ by Graham Kendrick on YouTube

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