In 360 AD Julian became Caesar. He was the nephew of Constantine the Great who “Christianized” the Roman world. However, Julian wanted to re-establish pagan worship in the Empire and became known as “Julian the Apostate.” He openly persecuted Christians and took away all the rights they had gained under Constantine.

He accused the Christians of trying to obtain followers by bribing the sick. He wrote, “These impious Galileans give themselves to this kind of humanity (the sick) as men allure children with candy, so they … bring converts to their impiety. Now we can see what it is that makes these Christians such powerful enemies of our gods. It is the brotherly love which they manifest toward strangers and towards the sick and the poor.” Julian did not care for the Christians at all, faulting them for being kind and loving.

However, he had been educated in Athens alongside a dedicated Christian by the name of Agaton. Agaton was spared persecution, even being given a position in Julian’s court. Of course, he was constantly teased by Julian for his beliefs. One day, in front of a large group of wealthy Romans, Julian asked, “Agaton, how is your carpenter of Nazareth? Is he finding work these days?” Agaton smiled and answered, “He is perhaps taking time away from building mansions for the faithful to build a coffin for your Empire.” Less than two years later, Julian lay dying with a Persian arrow in his chest. He had led his troops in an attempt to take over the ancient Persian Empire. He grabbed a handful of dust, red with his own blood, threw it up and cried, “You have conquered, Galiliean.” The Roman Empire has long since crumbled into the dust of history. But the Empire of the Carpenter lives on. And He will reign forever and ever.

In the final analysis, Jesus will emerge as the victor. Those who are on His side, those who have placed their confidence in Him will share in His victory. Anyone can be a part of that. All it takes is faith. Believe that His death paid for your sins, put your confidence in Him and not yourself, and you have the forgiveness He earned for you.

God wants the best for you – all of you. His love is powerful, it conquered sins and death so that you could be reconciled to Him. And once you have that, He will not let you go.

Romans 8:38 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.