No Turning Back

All of us have turning point in our lives which can either be good or bad based on how we allow it to define us. Last Monday, 19 Sept, the world farewelled Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Her state funeral was attended by over 2,000 guests, including prime ministers and world leaders from across the world, diplomats, and celebrities. Some online newspapers estimated that around 4 billion watch this event globally. The turning point in the life of QE was 6 Feb 1952 when her father King George VI died. Her coronation 18 months later was a point of no return.

In watching her state funeral for hours, what stood for me was her faith and devotion to Jesus. Throughout her 70 years reign, Jesus was the secret of her personal and corporate leaderships. She confessed and I quote, ‘For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.’ Queen Elizabeth was 26 years old when the imperial crown was placed on her head. The crown is adorned with 2,800 diamonds and is heavy. Not only that it was literally heavy on her head, but it also defines what she can, and she cannot do. She gave up some if not all her rights to choose for herself, to live like everybody else. I could only imagine how many times she died to herself, her desires, her wishes only to serve her

imperial family.

1) NO amount of PRESSURE IS STRONG ENOUGH to make her leave her duty to serve. 2) No temptation is strong enough to lure her away from her devotion to the crown. 3) NO testing or trial was unbearable enough for her to leave the crown. RESPECT AND HONOR - We will never know the total impact of her dedication to the crown. No doubt, its massive - 1952 to 2022.

IMPERIAL CROWN VS THE CROWN OF JESUS - The Bible talks of a crown that was not made of jewels nor diamonds. It was a crown of thorns, a crown of shame, before it becomes a crown of glory! This is the crown that the Roman soldiers pushed down on Jesus’ head causing his head to bleed. Acts 9:4-6 record a turning point in

Paul’s life that made him a martyr to the crown of Jesus. Paul said, 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. WHEN SAUL HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN ASKING HIM “Saul,

Saul, why do you persecute me?” He knew that THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK FOR HIM FROM THAT DAY. That voice was so clear, no mistaking it was the Lord! He heard the voice of Jesus instruct him in his commission as a minister and witness to the Gentiles (vv. 14–18).

THE PERSECUTOR WOULD BECOME THE PERSECUTED! Since that day he had proclaimed Jesus (Acts 9:20), speaking boldly in the name of the Lord (v 27).

1) NO amount of PRESSURE IS STRONG ENOUGH to make him leave Jesus.

2) No temptation is strong enough to lure him away from Jesus.

3) NO testing or trial was unbearable enough for him to leave the crown of glory.

There is NO turning back even if Paul had a lot to lose, even if he had to lose his privileges attached to his position in society and religion, and city life.

SAUL/PAUL: A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE/A LOT TO LOSE

- a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin/a Pharisee (Acts 22:3; Acts 23:6; Galatians 2:15; Phil 3:5)

– he described himself as one “circumcised on the 8th day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews (Phil 3:5)

- a city boy (Tarsus of Cilicia) (Acts 9:11; 21:39)

- born and raised by religious parents (Acts 22:3

- trained in religion (Acts 22:3; Acts 5:33-40; Gal. 1:14)

- a linguist - Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek (Acts 21:40; Acts 23:6;Phil. 3:5-6)

- a Roman citizen (Acts 22:22-23:11)

NO TURNING BACK TO HIS OLD LIFE; NO TURNING AWAY FROM THE CROWN OF JESUS even if Jesus had to send him in isolation for almost 13 years which had been God’s preparing him for ministry. According to Gal 1:17, 18, Paul left Damascus three years after his conversion. Following this, Paul returned to Damascus and then visited Peter in Jerusalem for 15 days (Gal 1:17–18).

NO TURNING BACK EVEN IF Even if believers in Jerusalem had doubts on him because everybody knew who he was. (Acts 9:26-28). Nothing can twist Paul’s arm – His identity is intact. He is not at the mercy of any influential human being for example, by a politician, philanthropist, no one got a hold of his ministry except Jesus Christ! He