“And when I am lifted from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:32)
I wonder how many non-believers, going through a difficult time in their lives, looked to the sky and saw a glorious sunrise or a majestic rainbow, and in that moment, realized there must be a God—a Creator of all that abounds, above and below. They saw a sign that could be from no one other than God, and believed!
Nearly 1600 years ago, and a little over 300 years after Jesus Christ rose from the tomb, Constantine saw a sign.
Constantine the Great was a Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337 and notably the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He played a pivotal role in elevating the status of Christians in Rome. During his reign, he decriminalized the practice of Christianity, and under his guidance, religious persecution eased.
However, Constantine wasn’t always a champion of Christianity. His early life was marked as a pagan, and during those years he rose through the ranks of the Roman military quickly, ultimately reaching his pinnacle as the supreme commander of the world; “Cesar – The Roman Emperor.”
On October 28, AD 312, in a conflict that would come to be known as the Battle of Melvin Bridge, Constantine’s troops took on the forces of Maxentius, another Roman emperor.
In the days leading up to the battle, Constantine saw a sign that he thought could lead to victory. He saw a sign from God. But could a pagan commander follow such a sign?
Just days before the battle, Constantine saw the sign as he was marching at midday; he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, bearing the inscription “In this sign you will conquer.” He looked around and confirmed with his men; they saw it too!
The following night Constantine had a dream in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign and told him to use it as a talisman in battle. Constantine followed the commands from his dream and marked his soldiers shields and the helmet he would wear with the sign, to ensure that God would be on his side.
Maxentius’ forces were twice the size of Constantine’s. However, that day marked by the sign of Christ, they fought beneath God’s glory and protection and won the battle.
The victory was a turning point for the Roman Empire and Christianity. The victory led to the Edict of Milan and things changed in Rome; persecution subsided, and Christianity flourished. The sign also proved to be pivotal in Constantine’s eternal life.
How many Christian lives were saved in the moment that Constantine saw the sign? His recognition of the sign and his obedience to its command not only changed his life but also changed the course of history.
Don’t miss the signs; they are all around us.
When Adam and Eve saw the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God’s command certainly came to mind: “Do not eat!” God wanted His message to be loud and clear, so He made it as big as a tree. We know what came next; we live with the very consequences every day.
Today we can use the vision of that tree in the garden as a sign of His intentions. God created the Garden of Eden to be paradise on earth. A paradise where we could walk in fellowship with Him forever by His side.
Oh, how quickly it all changed when God gave us free will and dominion over everything He created.
The choice Adam made did not change God or His desires; it changed us.
If God desires for us to live our lives on earth in paradise, and we are not…, who’s made the choice? Back at the start, it was Adam and Eve who chose. Today the choice is ours.
Choose to make your life one that’s lived in paradise. View God’s creation as a paradise, as the one it was created to be. Honor God’s gifts and accept His grace. Be joyful in every moment, and make life a pleasure, not a chore. Love all those around you. Remember, God designed Earth to be a paradise; it’s up to you to choose it to be.
God has you right where He wants you. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Are you where God wants you to be?”
If you’re not, get there. Keep your head on a swivel and use God’s signs as your guide…as your mileposts… try not to miss a thing.
Heaven on earth, paradise today… Look and listen for God.
Constantine didn’t miss God’s provision, and history was changed. Every day you live is your history; do not miss what God has provided you. Read the Bible!
One sign stands above all others—the sign of The Cross. We can look to the cross and remember Jesus’ words. “When I am lifted from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:32)
“I tell you the Truth”
Read The Bible
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