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OACI Update 1999

Compelling Love

William Lee watched as a group of guerrillas called Quantrell's Band was blindfolded, bound and lined up for execution by firing squad. They had just burned a town in Iowa during the American Civil War. When William saw his friend in the line, he knew he had to do something to save him. Running up to the commander, he cried, "Stop!" and asked to take his friend's place. He was placed in the line, and his friend was set free. The guns rang out, and William fell dead. Years later, his friend returned to the burial spot and built a monument with this inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Willie Lee, he took my place in the line, he died for me."

What compelled this young man to give his life for his friend? And what compelled his friend to erect a monument so that all could know? It was love. It was even greater love that compelled Christ to go to the cross and die for all our sins. Now he says to us, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." His last commands were, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel," and "You shall be my witnesses." Considering his great love and sacrifice for us, and the desperate need of multitudes dying without hope, surely we must do something to reach them with the good news of salvation. The apostle Paul, who sacrificed everything to reach his generation, said, "The love of Christ compels us."

Does the love of Christ compel us? If it does, we will obey his Great Commission, regardless of the cost, and be faithful to do our part in his program of world evangelization.

David Wilson
International President