Back to current>> Continue with confidence |
||
 There are people who draw a circle and include in it only their families and relatives. There are other people drawing a circle, including in it their nation as well. The latter are the people born to be leaders. The circle they are drawing is a symbol of love and concern. One of the last speeches of Martin Luther King is called: “The Promised lLand” and it ends like this: “Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” One day after this speech in Memphis, Tennessee, Martin was shot. No one expected this. His death served as a seed towards the change of the Afro-American people. The price was paid! Some historians claim that Martin Luther King prophesied about his death through this speech. After his death, America would not be the same. In the middle of the chaos, disorder and loss, the wind of change could be sensed, carrying with itself the dream of the Afro-American people. The life of Martin Luther King was not useless, but he fulfilled his duty towards the American people. The words of Jesus fit here perfectly: “No one has a greater love that to give his life for his friends”. We are witnesses how people have given their life for the freedom of their nation. Like Nelson Mandela in SA, who laid in prison for over 20 years, because of his uncompromising message and work for the freedom of the Africans; like Mahatma Gandhi in India, who used Biblical principles for the freedom of the Indian people from the British Empire. He said: “If you want the world to change, then become that change”; like Vasil Levski in Bulgaria, who managed to organize every village and town for the future fight for deliverance. We have heard about so many famous people, who have tirelessly been the torch of the undying fighting spirit, for their brothers and fellow countrymen. What has made these people on the brink of their limits and still say: “I can continue”. This is powerful, friends. What would your respond be, if you are confined in one of the darkest prison cells, because you dream for your people to experience their freedom? Of course the freedom that no person or organization can give you is the freedom that comes from our faith in Jesus. Can we be strong when we are surrounded by the darkness of doubt? Can we continue our way with confidence, when no one follows after us? Daniel 12:3 says: “those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” I believe these personalities stay in history as reformers. Their names are written in the “creators of history” section. They have created history, so they can see their society, nation and people changed. They are from the stars in the world history, which will give light in the dark days of our time, with the hope that somebody will look to them and follow the example they have left behind them. This example is the Unbeatable spirit. I believe every young person needs a hero in their life. A Person to imitate and inspire from. Because the connection between the old and new pioneers is the strength and power which moves our society to the truth and righteousness. The people that have decided to withstand and bring our society to these unchangeable priorities are called Reformers. Some call them fathers of their nation. Such was Martin Luther King. The reformer will choose to stand in the front positions, not to satisfy their personal ambitions, but because he is obedient and filled with the mission of his life. A person is being born with a purpose and it is deep in our hearts, revealing itself when we have the boldness to say that we are people with Destiny. And surely these are the steps of our progress, which will leave trails for the others, showing the way we have decided to go. This is the reflection of our faith and is a testimony on this Earth. I believe we are not choosing this road, but it chooses us. This is the way of life – it’s called “the narrow road”. It is the road of discipline and commitment. Napoleon Bonaparte, in one of his letters, writes: “In this world there are only two powers – the sword and the spirit, and the spirit always conquers the sword”. History teaches us that the thing that can not be defeated is our spirit. No weapon can crush the spirit of man. We must only look at the Hebrew nation during World War II. They were victims of a terrorizing system. The genocide against them in the concentration camps did not stop them from believing that righteousness would prevail. Yes, even when 6 million Hebrews died, most of them still believed that the Sun of righteousness would rise over their life. And in 1948 the State of Israel birthed out of ashes, as a fulfillment of God’s Word. This is just one example of the unbeatable spirit in man. I believe this unbeatable spirit is being transferred from generation to generation, reaching the ones that have the boldness to stand against the ruling unjust status in society. My question to you, my friend, is: do you have such unbeatable spirit, which can be an encouragement for others? I believe the answer to this question can be found in the distant past, about 2 thousand years ago, when one of the most cruel criminal case in the history of mankind took place. And if I have to define the casus, this case was not only a reflection of human cruelty and greed for power, but also of its fear from the Truth. The case was against a man, who said we are the light of the world. The same man touched the sick and they were healed. He fed 5 thousand people and said: “blessed and the poor…” This case was against Jesus Christ. Maybe this is the biggest law case in human history. Somebody has said that it is better for 10 criminals to be at large, than 1 innocent man to be in prison. Yes, truly One innocent man took the death penalty not of 10 people, but of the whole humankind. He took your and my charges, so we can be at large and be free from the slavery of sin. Jesus was the seed sown for our freedom, happiness and joy. And if we read the account of His sufferings, the physical violence against Him, we will be surprised that not one blow could crush His spirit. His body was breaking down, but not His spirit. They hit Him in the face, placed a crown of thorns and gave Him a cross to carry to Golgotha. But this did not change the condition of the Lord Jesus Christ. His unbeatable spirit surprised the soldiers, who beat and nailed Him to the cross. His power was unmeasurably greater than the power with which they hit Him, because His power bears the name Love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” and finally, He did not surrender His spirit to this world or to the political system, but said: “To You, Father, I commit My spirit…” I want this spirit, I want that heart, friends. Because, if we will be a generation of Reformation, we need His spirit, we need His brave heart. We must be ready to be that light. In John 1:9 it says: “The true light that was giving light to all men, was coming to the world”. Today this light comes again to our life. The light Jesus is being released to different communities and nations. The light is a sign of the coming enlightenment in the human mind concerning God’s truth and essence. I believe the purposes of God towards the generations have been and will be clearly revealed through the enlightenment, which people have received from His Word. Nelson Mandela says in one of his speeches: “If we allow the light, which we carry, to shine, then we will allow others to do so too”. Our society still bears the marks and wounds of its slavery and we can see that in every area. We must remove the spiritual blindness from our society. Let us raise the eyes of our nation together, towards the Light Jesus Christ. I believe that the young people in Bulgaria can draw the masterpiece, inspired by Jesus, about the salvation of our generation. Let us awaken the spirit of our nation together and restore what has been destroyed for a long time. Let us build bridges between the different ethnicities. And in the spirit of brotherhood let us fix the road that leads to Jesus Christ – our Destiny. My appeal to the young people of today is: Continue with confidence, because this is our duty. W. Churchill said: “Do not be satisfied to be a smoke, when you can actually be a fire”. |
||
 About the author:  Stefan Ivov is born in Bulgaria and raised in a protestant family of committed ministers of the Gospel. He starts his ministry at the age of 17, working actively among the coming generation. Stefan is a part of the team of his parents, who are actively working towards the social transformation of the Roma population in Bulgaria. His dream is to help the Roma community for their total restoration. His message for a Social transformation in the Roma ethnicity has touched many young people, in the area of God's plan for their life. |
||
CommentsPowered by Comment Script
|
