It is impossible to achieve lasting impact in a jiffy. It is also impossible to achieve that without any risk. What often obtains is that the more noble a cause is the more risk one has to contend with before it is actualized. Jerubbaal, otherwise known as Gideon, took a number of risks to deliver Israel from the hands of their enemies. He first took down the altar of the gods of his father’s house. That generated a great furore as the people called for his head. He later led an army of 300 men to face the Midianites. He was so much outnumbered that one could easily categorize his campaign as a suicide mission. All these, his son Jotham, reminded the people of. He risked his life to save their lives.
“Most times, success boils down to what price one is willing to pay for the cause we most cherish.”
J.I. Packer paid a glowing tribute to William Wilberforce. Hear him: “William Wilberforce…was a great man who impacted the Western world as few others have done. Blessed with brains, charm, influence and initiative, much wealth … he put evangelicalism on Britain’s map as a power for social change, first by overthrowing the slave trade almost single handed and then by generating a stream of societies for doing good and reducing evil in public life…” Did William Wilberforce achieve all these at a bargain? You bet not! He was the target of many a tirade and assassination threats. One Admiral Nelson pledged that as long as he could speak and fight, he would resist what he called ‘the damnable doctrines of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies.’’ One irate sea-captain was known to have pummeled Wilberforce on the street. At the end he prevailed. Most times, success boils down to what price one is willing to pay for the cause we most cherish.