GOD’S IRONY
Constantine is the first Roman Emperor who became a Christian. After enduring 3 centuries of persecution and death for their faith, the disciples of Christ had reason to celebrate as Constantine surprisingly embraced Christianity and also made it the official religion of the Empire. The story of Constantine’s conversion is no less amazing. Constantine’s father was an Augustus and Constantine expanded his reach to finally control Gaul and the northern part of the Empire. While he contemplated war with Emperor Maxentius in the Spring of 312 AD for total control of the Roman Empire, he was greatly worried. Maxentius had an experienced army and controlled a series of well-fortified cities in northern Italy. Constantine would have to defeat him with a much smaller army. In Gaul, before setting out towards Rome, Constantine and his army saw a great cross in the sky. Underneath was written the Greek words en toutoi nika, “In this sign, conquer.” On October 28, 312 AD, the Battle of Milvian Bridge was fought outside of Rome against Maxentius. Constantine advanced to the forefront of the battle behind the initials of Christ interwoven with a cross. Maxentius displayed the banner of the Unconquerable Sun as his battle standard. Constantine’s infantry decisively wins the battle. Maxentius himself was seen to fall from the bridge into the river as his army was retreating and drown due to his heavy armor.
Constantine was so moved by his vision of the cross that he vowed to worship no other God than the one represented to him. He understands Jesus was the only begotten son of God and that the cross he had seen in his vision was a symbol of Jesus’ triumph over death. Constantine devoted himself completely to God, and would from then on immerse himself in the reading of inspired writings. He made the priests of God his close advisers, and believed that it was his duty to honor the God who had appeared to him in his original vision.
God’s irony is in taking that which is lowly and weak and accomplishing the unexpected through them. Paul talks of this in 1Corinthians 1:27-29;
‘But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and despised things- the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him’.
There are no impossibilities with God. For one who is in Him, the sky is the limit. And when God’s irony works in your favor, worship emanates.
