Mission, Commission and Destiny
Journal 2004 11 01
A British trader is heading back to Ft. Assiniboine in Canada. Captains Lewis and Clark send copies of their passports and a letter explaining the nature of their journey to the governing authority over the country they are journeying through.
After all, a little acknowledged aspect of the expedition of the Corp of Discovery was that it was traveling through territory claimed and under the authority of another country. The Spanish and British both made claims on the “western” portion of North America. President Jefferson had a Manifest Destiny doctrine in mind and implicit in his letter commissioning the expedition, Jefferson is looking to establish an argument for US dominion over the land that lies between the two great oceans. Jefferson walked a fine line of boldly exploring uncharted land and trespassing on “foreign soil”. In fact, the Spanish attempted to stop the Corps and sent a military contingent that didn’t get past Colorado before being thwarted in their effort.
Jefferson understood the great sense of Godly destiny available of this new nation. He also understood the nature of ownership and legal requirements of making those claims on an international basis. The success of establishing a commercially viable navigation route under authority of the United States would have many advantages to a fledgling nation. He intended to fulfill them.
God is no respecter of persons and if Jefferson was able to see with great vision the overarching destiny of a nation we have that same ability.
There is no uncharted territory on our earth. There are no places where a satellite cannot deliver in minutes a detailed picture of the earth.
We were created with a need to fulfill a greater purpose. The exploration and population of our great nation was the fulfillment that history had in place for the people of that time. They had gained freedom and were determine to “live free or die.”
We have attained an even greater freedom. Do we have that same backbone to speak with certainty that we will “live free or die” in Christ.
If Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery, how much more has Christ commissioned us to the Cross of Discovery and the great adventures into foreign land bringing the message of the Gospel under proper authority?
The question of our time is to identify His Manifest Destiny for the Nation of Believers.
If we ask, He will answer. When He commissions, we must report for duty.
Am I asking? Have I received my commission? Have I reported for duty?
A British trader is heading back to Ft. Assiniboine in Canada. Captains Lewis and Clark send copies of their passports and a letter explaining the nature of their journey to the governing authority over the country they are journeying through.
After all, a little acknowledged aspect of the expedition of the Corp of Discovery was that it was traveling through territory claimed and under the authority of another country. The Spanish and British both made claims on the “western” portion of North America. President Jefferson had a Manifest Destiny doctrine in mind and implicit in his letter commissioning the expedition, Jefferson is looking to establish an argument for US dominion over the land that lies between the two great oceans. Jefferson walked a fine line of boldly exploring uncharted land and trespassing on “foreign soil”. In fact, the Spanish attempted to stop the Corps and sent a military contingent that didn’t get past Colorado before being thwarted in their effort.
Jefferson understood the great sense of Godly destiny available of this new nation. He also understood the nature of ownership and legal requirements of making those claims on an international basis. The success of establishing a commercially viable navigation route under authority of the United States would have many advantages to a fledgling nation. He intended to fulfill them.
God is no respecter of persons and if Jefferson was able to see with great vision the overarching destiny of a nation we have that same ability.
There is no uncharted territory on our earth. There are no places where a satellite cannot deliver in minutes a detailed picture of the earth.
We were created with a need to fulfill a greater purpose. The exploration and population of our great nation was the fulfillment that history had in place for the people of that time. They had gained freedom and were determine to “live free or die.”
We have attained an even greater freedom. Do we have that same backbone to speak with certainty that we will “live free or die” in Christ.
If Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery, how much more has Christ commissioned us to the Cross of Discovery and the great adventures into foreign land bringing the message of the Gospel under proper authority?
The question of our time is to identify His Manifest Destiny for the Nation of Believers.
If we ask, He will answer. When He commissions, we must report for duty.
Am I asking? Have I received my commission? Have I reported for duty?
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 11:07 PM
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