RUSSELL SANDERS
10-12-2020
COLUMBUS DAY – AMERICAN HERITAGE
Today is the Columbus Day holiday commemorating the 1492 landing of Christopher Columbus on a Caribbean island. It began a period of intense European interest in the “New World.” More than 100 years later, colonies were formed in what would become the most blessed and prosperous nation in the world, called America.
This country became a refuge for God’s people who were persecuted, rejected, and scorned in their countries. Protestants such as the Pilgrims, Puritans, Huguenots, and others found religious freedom here. Jews who were expelled from their native Spain found safety here. God raised up this nation to be a beacon of light to the world.
There is a false and evil narrative originated by the New York Times called the “1619 Project.” It decries an incident where some African slaves were taken to Virginia and deposited there. The Virginia settlers had not asked for them, but they gave them sustenance. This “project” has now gone viral. It condemns all of American history for promoting “systemic” racism. It seeks to destroy our history, its’ monuments, and discredit all of our godly founding fathers. It is re-writing our history as an evil nation which does not deserve to survive any longer as a nation. It associates with the “cancel culture” movement and the “Woke” generation. It ignores and discredits our true history. It is a godless and anti-Christian movement.
The true history shows this country as a refuge for God’s children who would evangelize the world. We have sent more missionaries than any other country in history.
A true revelation of our culture can be seen in 1724 with the spiritual birth of the First Great Awakening. We often refer to Jonathan Edward’s sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in association with it as scores of people ran forward in tears to repent and take Jesus as their personal Savior. Spanning four decades, this “revival” turned the heart of the nation to God. It also began a powerful movement to abolish slavery. Our founding fathers came out of this and wrote God into all of our country’s documents.
The second Great Awakening began in the early 1800’s and focused on living a life of holiness unto the Lord. It led to the final abolition of slavery in the 1860’s. America’s period of slavery was one of the shortest periods of time among the nations of the world and it set the tone for other nations to abolish it over the next several decades.
America has done God’s work also by helping needy nations and aiding in disasters, part of doing God’s good works. Untold millions across the world have received the gospel of salvation in Jesus. We need to pray that God’s plan for this nation will be fulfilled in its’ entirety. There is an evil force attempting to destroy us. Pray protection for God’s people. Pray His purpose and destiny for this nation. Pray. Praise Him, then pray some more.
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