THE WORTH OF LIFE AND WHATS WORTH IN LIFE

In Ibsen’s book, “Emperor and Galilean”, there is a scene where Julian Caesar is standing on a hill overlooking the fields and farms that are part of his empire.

He gives a great sigh and speaking to himself says, “I look down on the earth, my earth, the Emperor’s earth which I have made without the Galilean. But what have I won? Men talk of my renown with cold admiration; but in their warm, believing hearts there sits enthroned the Carpenter’s Son. Where is he now? Has he been at work elsewhere since what happened at Golgotha? What if that at Golgotha, near Jerusalem, was but a wayside matter, a thing done, as it were, in passing, in a leisure hour. What if he still goes on and on and on, suffers, and dies and conquers again and again, from world to world? I wonder? Where is he now, the Galilean I conquered?”

And soon, thereafter, Julian, but one more of the Caesars, dies. And even before he is buried there is clamoring in the courtyard to divide the power he held so briefly. And Ibsen paints this scene: Julian is lying in state, his faithful servant, his one true friend, looks down on him and says, “Forgotten ere your hand is cold; And for this pitiful splendor you sold your immortal soul.”
He was born in 6 B.C. of a young woman named Mary, in an out-of-the-way place called Bethlehem. He grew up in a dusty little village named Nazareth. He belonged to a despised people under the rule of Rome, was denied the best education of his day and in his boyhood was taught the trade of a carpenter. For the first thirty years of his life he did nothing to distinguish himself. And then, one day, he put away his tools and began to preach. His whole ministry took place in an area half the size of the state of New Jersey.

Then! He began to make extravagant statements: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6)

“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9) “Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall save it.”

He forgave sins: “Be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2) “The Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins.” (Luke 5:24)

He had no sins. One day he said to his accusers, “Which of you convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46)
Men worshipped him and he accepted this worship. “They that were in the boat worshipped him.” (Matthew 28:9)

And that is why we are here on earth - to worship Him…. to follow Him…. to become better than we would be if we did not gather together in His name….. to aspire to higher things and perspire for better things.

It’s a jungle out there sometimes. It is a world where too many strive to get all they can, and keep all they can and let the other fellow get by as best he can.
Because Christ was born and you have given your life to this Christ, you are called to be different