Into The Colosseum

Let me tell you the story of Telemachus. The Colosseum and the gladiatorial games had been decreasing in popularity in the Roman empire years before it ended, but no one could seem to shut it down. Telemachus was a Christian, and he was deeply troubled by the senseless violence of the Colosseum. One day, he decided that he could not sit idly by, he had had enough of simply shouting out his protests, so he stood up, ran down the steps of the Colosseum, entered the arena, and came between the gladiators, begging for the people to end the cycle of madness. In response, the crowd ignored his plea and stoned him to death, and the sand that lined the floor of the Colosseum, the sand that was intended to soak up the blood of its victims, soaked up the blood of Telemachus. He had seemingly accomplished nothing and appeared to have sacrificed his life in vain. What neither he nor the crowds could have anticipated, though, was that the Emperor would hear of his heroism and, finally, once and for all, put an end to the games.

Will we step into the Colosseum? Will we waste our lives for Christ? Will we step into the sand knowing that it could be our blood that wets it next? Will we heed the call of Christ to forsake all and follow Him? Each day He bids us come and die. Each day He beckons us to step into the arena with Him. Regardless of whether it makes sense. Regardless of whether it seems beneficial. Regardless of whether it will make a difference. Regardless of whether I am healthy or wealthy or comfortable. Those things are not my focus. The possible outcomes of obedience do not determine whether or not I should be obedient. I walk in the face of death, self-denial, humiliation, and servitude not because I’m following my heart, not because it will make me feel good, not because I need to be true to myself, but I set my face like a flint and I walk down the steps into the arena because that is what Christ has done for me, and He is worthy of every single drop of blood, sweat, and tears. I am not my own, I have been bought at a price. Christ is our focus. His glory. His will. If I go to college, it is for Christ. If I'm at work, it's for Christ. If I'm dating, it's for Christ. If I'm a parent or a spouse, it's for Christ. I will step into the Colosseum in every area of my life, both feet planted firmly on the sand, dead to myself, living for Jesus, whether the crowd cheers for me or stones me, whether I see the results of my obedience or it seems that all my efforts have been in vain, no matter what I am His. With every fiber of my being and every beat of my heart, I am His. Because I will not give a sacrifice that costs me nothing.

So I say this to all of you as much as myself: Wherever He leads, step into the Colosseum and lay yourself on the altar. There is none more eternally worthy of your life than our Lord. There is nothing that you can give up or endure in this life that you will regret when you reach eternity. In fact, when you finally see Jesus face to face, you will wish with your whole heart that you had given more. Let me leave you with the words of Jim Elliott, a missionary who was speared to death, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."