Waking Up with the Awakeners
Finding inspiration for the day in the words of the leaders of Spiritual Awakenings.
Savonarola and the Power of Truth Unleashed, Florence, Italy 1498
When the real, the genuine truth is revealed to a culture desperate for it, people who are left empty from the lies will recognize the genuine. Truth has the power to change their lives … and their culture. You and I are called to be truth-bearers!
The Italian preacher Savonarola, lived in the city of Florence at the end of the 1400’s. The culture he spoke to had written God out of their day. They were absorbed with affluence, pride, and sexual passions and ignored a Christ-centered holiness. In place of a life in love with Jesus, they chose a life impassioned with whatever pleasure they could get out of each other.
Savonarola taught truth from Scripture and invited people to the full life we have when we fall in love with Jesus. His singular voice to a culture in decay turned his city around. People who had lost their way, listened to the truth of the Good News and experienced the miracle of salvation. The fires of revival fell.
God’s truth was declared. That truth ignited faith, churches filled up, people wept in repentance, lives were changed, and miracles happened. Godliness became the street culture and evil went underground.
In Savonarola’s words: “The more truth is denied, the more, if truth has a defender, it becomes clear to the human mind.” His point? When light is lifted up, people long for light instead of darkness. Lies are revealed as evil; truth is seen as real and good and perfect.
Paul addressed a culture that had lost its way: “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” When a culture exchanges truth for a lie, truth gets beaten down, and those who believe truth are intimidated into silence. But Paul also writes that the truth of God, “the Good News about Christ is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.”
Savonarola’s voice for truth and righteousness ignited the flames of revival and Florence experienced a spiritual awakening. Future catalysts for revival and reform, the next “Awakeners,” would claim fellowship with Savonarola. He is one whom God used to awaken his world to Jesus.
Today, let your voice for truth and your life of godliness speak boldly to your world that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Don’t be intimidate! Be a catalyst, an Awakener for revival!
Scripture is from Romans 1 NLT. Quote is an Excerpt From
Girolamo Savonarola’s booklet “The triumph of the cross.”