Crossing Your Rubicon.
I write a weekly column for the Dallas New Era. In recent weeks, I've begun posting those columns. I am going to begin going back & posting some of the columns I wrote earlier in the year as well.
(Written 1/12/2010)
“Crossing the Rubicon” is a popular idiom that refers to a point of no return. Historically, it refers to the time when Julius Caesar led his army across the Rubicon river plunging Rome into Civil war. Exercising imperium when forbidden by the law was a capital offence, punishable by death. Furthermore, obeying the commands of a general who did not legally possess imperium was also a capital offence. If a general entered Italy whilst exercising command of an army, both the general and his soldiers became outlaws and were automatically condemned to death. Generals were thus obliged to disband their armies before entering Italy.
In 49 B.C, supposedly on January 10, Julius Caesar led one legion south over the Rubicon from Gaul to Italy to make his way to Rome. In doing so, he deliberately broke the law on imperium and made armed conflict inevitable. As he did, he uttered the famous phrase "the die has been cast."
Some of us have some “Rubicon’s” in our lives that we need to cross. Some of us need to make a commitment to spiritual growth. Hebrews 5:12 says "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!" There is no excuse for not growing spiritually today. There are so many ways we can take in God's word. You can listen to the Bible on CD or on our ipod while working out. You can read the Bible on-line during your lunch hour or a break at work.
I had a seminary professor tell me that when he was a student in seminary He was taking Hebrew grammar. He was a Pastor and a student and sometimes struggled with fatigue while trying to study. So, to make himself stay awake, he would hold a baby in one hand and his Hebrew grammar in the other in order to learn Hebrew. We need that same kind of commitment to spiritual growth!
Maybe we need to cross the Rubicon of financial management and become better managers of our financial resources this year. Luke 12:34 says "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Maybe we need to cross the Rubicon of health and fitness and begin exercising and eating better this year.
On the day before he was killed, President John F. Kennedy spoke to a group of space scientists in Texas about his dreams. He recalled the Irish writer, Frank O'Connor, who had told how, as a boy, he and his friend would wander across the countryside and when they came to an orchard wall that was too high to climb, they would throw their hats over the wall, then they would have no choice but to follow.
Kennedy said, "The U.S. has tossed its cap over the wall. Now we will climb the wall and we shall then explore the wonders of the other side."
Some of us may need to toss our hat over a wall and cross our Rubicon this week. When Caesar led his army across the Rubicon, there was no turning back. With the Lord's help, cross your personal Rubicon this week.
(Written 1/12/2010)
“Crossing the Rubicon” is a popular idiom that refers to a point of no return. Historically, it refers to the time when Julius Caesar led his army across the Rubicon river plunging Rome into Civil war. Exercising imperium when forbidden by the law was a capital offence, punishable by death. Furthermore, obeying the commands of a general who did not legally possess imperium was also a capital offence. If a general entered Italy whilst exercising command of an army, both the general and his soldiers became outlaws and were automatically condemned to death. Generals were thus obliged to disband their armies before entering Italy.
In 49 B.C, supposedly on January 10, Julius Caesar led one legion south over the Rubicon from Gaul to Italy to make his way to Rome. In doing so, he deliberately broke the law on imperium and made armed conflict inevitable. As he did, he uttered the famous phrase "the die has been cast."
Some of us have some “Rubicon’s” in our lives that we need to cross. Some of us need to make a commitment to spiritual growth. Hebrews 5:12 says "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!" There is no excuse for not growing spiritually today. There are so many ways we can take in God's word. You can listen to the Bible on CD or on our ipod while working out. You can read the Bible on-line during your lunch hour or a break at work.
I had a seminary professor tell me that when he was a student in seminary He was taking Hebrew grammar. He was a Pastor and a student and sometimes struggled with fatigue while trying to study. So, to make himself stay awake, he would hold a baby in one hand and his Hebrew grammar in the other in order to learn Hebrew. We need that same kind of commitment to spiritual growth!
Maybe we need to cross the Rubicon of financial management and become better managers of our financial resources this year. Luke 12:34 says "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Maybe we need to cross the Rubicon of health and fitness and begin exercising and eating better this year.
On the day before he was killed, President John F. Kennedy spoke to a group of space scientists in Texas about his dreams. He recalled the Irish writer, Frank O'Connor, who had told how, as a boy, he and his friend would wander across the countryside and when they came to an orchard wall that was too high to climb, they would throw their hats over the wall, then they would have no choice but to follow.
Kennedy said, "The U.S. has tossed its cap over the wall. Now we will climb the wall and we shall then explore the wonders of the other side."
Some of us may need to toss our hat over a wall and cross our Rubicon this week. When Caesar led his army across the Rubicon, there was no turning back. With the Lord's help, cross your personal Rubicon this week.
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