The Power of One (WWI - part 1)

100 years ago, in 1914, a Serbian named Gavrilo Princip shot dead the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenburg.

 

His actions triggered a chain of events that resulted in the first World War taking place, killing more than 37 million people – men, women and children. 

In 1885, another man, Edward Kimble, walked into a shoe store and shared the gospel with one of his Sunday School pupils who worked there.

The shoe salesman was D.L. Moody, who gave his life to Jesus that very day and went on to be an evangelist who lead thousands of people to Christ.

You can read more about Kimble’s story on these websites:

http://www.travisagnew.org/2013/07/22/the-chain-of-events-for-billy-grahams-conversion/

http://calvarychristiancenter.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/edwrd-kimble-and-shoe-salesman.html

 

Kimble’s actions started a chain of events that eventually lead to the conversion of Billy Graham, in 1934. And in 1984, nearly 100 years after Kimble walked into that shoe shop, Billy Graham held a rally at Anfield Football Stadium in Liverpool, where my parents became Christians, who then lead me (aged 10) and my brother to Christ! 

Here I am with my mum, who gave her life to the Lord at that Billy Graham rally and then told me about Jesus …… hello! 

One man’s actions started a war in which millions died. Another man’s actions resulted in millions of people hearing about Jesus and becoming Christians. Including me! 

Our choices can have a massive impact on our lives and the lives of people around us. We need to make wise choices. The Bible is big on wisdom. We are told to "prize Wisdom highly" (Proverbs 4:8), and to "seek Wisdom as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures" (Proverbs2:4). This is because "the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). If we seek Wisdom, we find God!

When Edward Kimble heard God asking him to walk into a shoe shop and tell a young man about Jesus, Kimble was scared! What would the young man say? But Kimble knew that even when God asks us to do things which seem crazy, we should not rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) but trust Him, because His 'foolishness' is wiser than our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). If you're not sure whether you're making a good decision, all you need to do is ask God, because if you ask Him in faith, He will give wisdom to you (James 1:5-6).

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People use poppies to commemorate (remember) the first world war. Poppies grew over the graves of the soldiers who died in the trenches. A soldier called John McCrae wrote a famous poem about these poppies, which you can read here. The red colour of the poppies reminds us of the blood which was shed by the soldiers who died for their country. 

Someone else gave His blood for us, too. This one man did something which changed the future of the whole world. Can you think Who it might be?

Why don't you have a go at making a poppy? Find out how here.