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Who
is Truly Great?
Jesus
the Christ and Alexander the Great both died at
thirty-three.
Alexander’s dates in history: 356-323 B.C.
Jesus was born over 300 years
later.
Each lived a brief life on this earth, yet both had
incredible accomplishments in those brief years.
One
conquered EVERY
THRONE; the other EVERY GRAVE.
In the latter part of the fourth century
B.C., Alexander attacked
Persia
. Victory
followed victory until he found himself on the
Indus
River
in modern
Pakistan
. There,
according to legend, he wept for want of more worlds
to conquer. Jesus,
by virtue of His own resurrection, conquered every
grave. After
His sinless life, Jesus was crucified on a cross by
the hands of godless men (Acts 2:23).
Yet, His death was also a part of the predetermined
purpose and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:22), for His
blood was shed for many for the forgiveness of sins
(Matthew 26:28). Then
three days later, God declared that Jesus was the Son
of God with power by raising Him from the dead (Romans
1:4). His
resurrection guarantees our own (1 Corinthians
15:20-23; John 5:26-29).
One
shed a whole world’s blood; the Other shed His blood
for the whole world.
Alexander
shed a whole world’s blood to establish his earthly
empire.
Jesus shed His own blood to establish a heavenly
kingdom. "In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His
grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
With His blood He purchased a people for His
own possession (1 Peter 2:9), the church (Acts 20:28).
One
founded an empire upon FORCE;
the other founded his upon LOVE.
Napolean Bonaparte said: "I know men;
and I tell you that Jesus Christ is NOT a man … Alexander,
Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires.
But upon what did we rest the creations of our
genius? Upon
force. Jesus
Christ alone founded his empire upon love; and, at
this hour, millions would die for him." "Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends..." (John 15:13).
Jesus demonstrated this kind of love.
The
empire of one is no more; the kingdom of the Other
will last for eternity!
Alexander’s Grecian empire is no
more. His
demise was the subject of prophecy (see Daniel 8:5-8).
As powerful as he was, Alexander’s kingdom
came to an end! Daniel
also prophesied concerning another kingdom, "a
kingdom which shall NEVER be destroyed" (2:44-45).
He was speaking of the
Kingdom
of Christ
, the church over which He NOW reigns (1
Corinthians 15:24).
Are
YOU a part of His eternal
kingdom? You
can be -IF-
you will submit to the King: believing
in Jesus and trusting Him (Acts 16:31), repenting
of sin (Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) into His kingdom for the forgiveness of
sins (Acts 2:38).
Subjects of His kingdom must continue to submit
to His rule if they would expect to enjoy the benefits
of His kingdom (Matthew 7:21).
Alexander
was a powerful ruler, but Jesus is the King of kings
and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14).
Have YOU submitted to His
rule?
God bless you,
David
A. Sargent /
Allen
Dixon
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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