An amazing event occurred on May 21, 1946 at Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment while laying the groundwork for the atomic test to be conducted in the South Pacific in the Bikini Islands. He had successfully performed this experiment many times before as he put two hemispheres of uranium together and then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, which instantly stopped the inevitable chain reaction.
But this particular day, just as the material became critical the screwdriver slipped.
The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby probably saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thankfully interrupted the chain reaction.
By this instant, self-sacrificing act, he saved the lives of the seven other people in the room. As he waited for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, “You’ll come through all right. But I haven’t the faintest chance myself. It was true. Nine days later he died in agony.
Self sacrifice. Why do people do it? Self-Sacrifice is defined as the relinquishment of one’s own interests or wishes in order to help others or advance a cause. The Bible gives us numerous accounts of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Christ. The Bible actually calls this a “living sacrifice.” Peter was one such person. He once healed a well-known beggar and from that, five thousand men came to believe on Jesus Christ. The religious rulers & elders went nuts. They arrested Peter & John and demanded to know, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
So Peter told them – It was “in the name of Jesus Christ, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Period. Of course, that didn’t set well with these religious rulers but it was too late. People were being turned “from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” and these rulers were afraid of the people.
So the rulers severely threatened Peter & John and commanded them not so speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter & John’s response? “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Period-again!! Peter continued his life of self- sacrifice – teaching, preaching & healing people in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
He is listed as one of the early church martyr’s. It seems that people have always had a aversion to truth-tellers!
So why would Peter sacrifice himself like this? What cause could possibly be worth his life? The answer is pretty simple – he cared deeply for the souls of people. Peter caught the vision of Jesus for people! Check out Romans 5: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man…but God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s people love at it’s apex.
Everybody knows in their heart of hearts that eternity exists. Ivan the IV of Russia was such a cruel man that they called him “Ivan the Terrible.” He married 7 wives and
abused them all. He was immoral and violent He used to grow animals off the Kremlin walls just to watch them die.
When he died in 1584, historians record that they shaved his head and dressed him for burial in the robes of a monk, hoping that God would think that Ivan the Terrible was a monk, and thus allow him into heaven. Pretty crazy stuff. The only problem with that is that there’s only one way to heaven and it’s not by lookin’ good!
Charles Spurgeon (1934-1892) once made a remarkable statement: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring then to stay…and let not one go unwarned and unplayed for.” Selah!
Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at Dpcitychurch.org
