Third and finally, as we work and serve God in the kingdom, we should be pushed ahead, or compelled, by the love of Christ. One more time we consider the secular for the sake of comparison here. We are oftentimes motivated to do things because of a love, because of a desire, and often because of the pleasure—the sheer enjoyment—that we receive from it. Perhaps it’s a hobby that we enjoy and are good at. It may be some sort of cause or campaigning that we are caught up in and which we believe in. It may even be our jobs—our secular work. And we are driven by our passion to accomplish this thing, or we’re compelled by an inspirational leader who motivates and inspires us—a mentor. Maybe it’s a candidate that we’re working for. Maybe it’s a coach. Maybe it’s even a boss who spurs us on, who compels us to do this thing.

Well, in our spiritual lives, it is Christ who compels us. 2 Corinthians 5,verses 14 and 15, Paul writes, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him Who died for them and was raised again.” Yes, it’s the love of Christ which compels us to do the work and service in the kingdom that we need to do. We’re not forced. We don’t serve out of fear or some slavish compulsion like some might suggest. We work and serve in the kingdom because we are compelled by Christ’s love and His sacrificial death for us.

You see, brethren, I believe that when we come to the full realization of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for us, and we understand the true meaning and significance of that sacrifice, then we will be prompted to greater service, not out of slavish complying with rules, but rather we will give greater service out of a willing, loving heart.

What more inspiration could we ask for? What more motivation can there possibly be? What greater encouragement can we ask for than that which is found in the love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

Well, in conclusion, just like Emperor Tamerlane, we as God’s children will triumph in the end if we, first of all, don’t live in the past—if we forget those things which are behind us, if we strain toward that which lies ahead. We will triumph in the end also if we remember what our purpose—what our function—as Christians—as children of God—is in this life, and that purpose is to work, to serve in the kingdom, to bring honor and glory to the heavenly Father. And we’ll triumph again also if we allow Christ’s love to compel us to that work and service in the kingdom.

Although we may be often depressed, or though we may be often discouraged, and many times dejected more than elated, we will never be deserted by our Father in heaven. I’d like to conclude with a reading from Romans, chapter 8, beginning with verse 35, and reading to the end of the chapter:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered,’. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Let’s all be spurred on, be motivated, be inspired because of these things that we’ve considered today so that we remember our purpose, and so that our work and service in the kingdom will be a joy and a pleasure to do.