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Remembering What Men of God Have Said #12
by Joseph Prescia

On Memorial Day we remember those in the military who fought for our freedom. We set up memorials to honor what great Americans have done as a reminder to future generations. I have gathered some quotes that are well worth remembering.

On November 11th, 1620, the day the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod with 102 passengers, was the day that the Mayflower Compact was signed by their men which said in part, “...Having undertaken for the glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith...a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern parts of Virginia...Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together...” No where in that written Compact do you find that they left their former land to escape religious persecution. Religious persecution was a byproduct of what they held first and foremost in their hearts and that was for God first and the Advancement of the Christian faith. That was the number one reason they did it.

From the early years of our country’s history we see the desire in humble hearts to worship God and to seek His guidance. When this was threatened, they boldly declared a new course of action like on July 4th, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed. They said collectively “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness...”

Samuel Adams was known as the “Father of the American Revolution” and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Imagine the fears and concerns before declaring independence. Sam Adams said "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

In 1954, Former Chief Justice Earl Warren, while addressing an annual prayer breakfast said, “I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people...”

In the Old Testament Joshua had a great stone set up as a witness to God’s people so that they could remember their commitment to God. That stone was their memorial for future generations. Today in the book of Ephesians we are told to remember that in times past we were Gentiles, without God and without hope. But now we are made near to God by the blood of Christ for he is our peace. The Bible was written by holy men of God as they were moved by the holy spirit. If we are endeavoring to remember what men of God have said, the Bible is critical in this quest.

Why remember what men of God have said? To give a vision to follow after, to be reminded of what it cost others so that it is not taken for granted, to do something with it, with a view of serving the one True God. Remember what men of God have said because if they were inspired by God when they said it, their vision could be our vision. Brave souls have gone before us unafraid because of the spirit of God within them. May we utilize that which God has given us to the fullest potential, if the Lord should tarry, to lovingly pave the way for future generations.

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