HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR

Some of you are familiar with the powerful words of ONE SOLITARY LIFE . . . penned about our great Savior . . .

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpentry shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. When the tide of popular opinion turned against him, his friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies. He was tried and convicted.

He was nailed on a cross between two thieves. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never went to college. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompanies greatness. Yet all the armies that ever
marched, all the navies that ever set sail, and all the governments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, have not affected life upon this earth as powerfully as has that ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

I am reading a new book entitled LEADING WITH BILLY GRAHAM. Author Jay Dennis quotes historian Philip Schaff -- "This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science . . . he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since and
produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions,
learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times."

Pastor Dennis continues to write that "the impact of this one man can be seen in the hospitals that have been built, the schools and universities that have been started, and the compassionate organizations and programs to reach out to the poor, injured, hurting, and homeless that have been started in His name. He elevated womanhood to its highest level and inspired people to found orphanages for children who have no homes. The list could continue. When this JESUS
lives within us, His resurrection power allows us to have influence on others!"

Hallelujah! What a Savior. Now what about you? Have you shared Him with someone else? Good words to ponder on this Friday, June 3, 2005.