One day,
as Telemachus was tending his garden at the monastery, he felt that Jesus
calling him to go to Rome. He had never been there and had no idea why the
Lord would want him to go. The feeling, however, grew stronger until
Telemachus knew he must make the long journey. He set out across Asia Minor and
caught a boat for Rome. After many days he landed and made his way to the
Imperial City. When he got there, he found that the city was in the midst of a
great celebration. The Romans had just defeated the Goths.
Telemachus still had no idea why he had come but he noticed great crowds moving through the streets toward the famed Coliseum. He followed the crowds and thought to himself, “Perhaps this is the reason why God has called me here.” It turned out that the crowds had gathered for the gladiator contests. That meant that men would fight against men on the arena floor until only one man was alive. Then the wild animals would be let loose to devour the body of the dead gladiators. It was a violent, bloodthirsty sport. The crowds had come to watch the action.
At length, the gladiators marched in, saluted the emperor and shouted, “We who are about to die salute thee.” Then the games began. Telemachus was shocked. He had never seen such a thing. He knew that he could not keep silent while men killed each other for entertainment. In a flash of blinding insight Telemachus knew what he must do. He ran to the perimeter of the arena and cried with a loud voice, “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!”
The crowd paid him no heed. He was just one voice among thousands. So Telemachus made his way to the edge of the arena and stepped onto the sandy floor. There he was, rushing here and there, dodging the gladiators as they thrust at each other. He cried out again, “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!” The crowd began to cheer, thinking perhaps that he was part of the entertainment, like a clown at a rodeo.
Then he blocked the vision of one of the gladiators causing him to narrowly avoid a death-dealing blow. Suddenly the mood changed and the crowd became angry. “KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!” The gladiator he had blocked took his sword and struck Telemachus in the chest. Immediately the arena floor turned sandy red from his blood. The little monk fell to the ground and as he died, he cried out for the final time, “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!”
Then a strange thing happened. A hush fell over the arena. All eyes were focused on the still form in the crimson sand. The gladiators put down their swords. One by one the spectators left their seats and emptied the Coliseum.
Historians tell us that was the last gladiatorial contest in the Roman Coliseum. Never again did men kill men for entertainment in the arena. When Telemachus died, the gladiator contests died with him.
Think about that story for a moment. Was Telemachus a man of faith? Yes. Did he obey the Lord ? Yes. . Living by faith, in the end, meant dying by faith. Because he obeyed the Lord he made a difference in the world.
Telemachus still had no idea why he had come but he noticed great crowds moving through the streets toward the famed Coliseum. He followed the crowds and thought to himself, “Perhaps this is the reason why God has called me here.” It turned out that the crowds had gathered for the gladiator contests. That meant that men would fight against men on the arena floor until only one man was alive. Then the wild animals would be let loose to devour the body of the dead gladiators. It was a violent, bloodthirsty sport. The crowds had come to watch the action.
At length, the gladiators marched in, saluted the emperor and shouted, “We who are about to die salute thee.” Then the games began. Telemachus was shocked. He had never seen such a thing. He knew that he could not keep silent while men killed each other for entertainment. In a flash of blinding insight Telemachus knew what he must do. He ran to the perimeter of the arena and cried with a loud voice, “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!”
The crowd paid him no heed. He was just one voice among thousands. So Telemachus made his way to the edge of the arena and stepped onto the sandy floor. There he was, rushing here and there, dodging the gladiators as they thrust at each other. He cried out again, “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!” The crowd began to cheer, thinking perhaps that he was part of the entertainment, like a clown at a rodeo.
Then he blocked the vision of one of the gladiators causing him to narrowly avoid a death-dealing blow. Suddenly the mood changed and the crowd became angry. “KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!” The gladiator he had blocked took his sword and struck Telemachus in the chest. Immediately the arena floor turned sandy red from his blood. The little monk fell to the ground and as he died, he cried out for the final time, “IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, STOP!”
Then a strange thing happened. A hush fell over the arena. All eyes were focused on the still form in the crimson sand. The gladiators put down their swords. One by one the spectators left their seats and emptied the Coliseum.
Historians tell us that was the last gladiatorial contest in the Roman Coliseum. Never again did men kill men for entertainment in the arena. When Telemachus died, the gladiator contests died with him.
Think about that story for a moment. Was Telemachus a man of faith? Yes. Did he obey the Lord ? Yes. . Living by faith, in the end, meant dying by faith. Because he obeyed the Lord he made a difference in the world.
We, too, Can Make A Difference.
"All Hail the power
of Jesus's Name".
In Him,
Brown
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to
gain what he cannot lose"
Jim Elliott
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