Columbus Day!

Monday evening, October 8, 2007
Today is Columbus Day in the good, old USA; the day we celebrate the fact that the world is round, not flat! Granted, I am guessing, but it is my guess that you spend lots of time considering how things would be, if Columbus’ sailing trip had proven the world flat, rather than round. If you will allow you mind to wander just a bit (which is easy for me!), you will soon realize why we celebrate this glorious fact—falling off the edge would be, well it would be bad!
One of the things that intrigues me about this holiday is this: there were many people in Columbus’ day (1451-1506) who sincerely (truly, unwaveringly, absolutely, positively, no doubt about it) believed that the world was flat, and they also believed, just as sincerely, truly, unwaveringly, absolutely, positively, no doubt about it that ole’ Chris was crazy, as in C-R-A-ZY, for even thinking about taking his sailing trip, aka voyage! Surely, or so they thought, the dingbat knew that, if he sailed far enough, he would simply fall off the end of the earth and that would be his end—demise, finish, final sailing trip!
Why does that intrigue me? It does because even though they sincerely, truly, unwaveringly, absolutely, positively, no doubt about it believed that the world was flat, they were incorrect, and in the face of that opposition, Columbus set sail, even continued sailing, when most of those who were traveling with him wanted to turn around and go home. Restated: Columbus not only was willing to risk being ridiculed for what he believed, but also and more importantly, he was willing to risk his life for what he believed and there is something about that that intrigues me. I might add that he was not only willing to risk his life, he actually took the risk!
As strange as it seems, many Muslims are not only willing to risk being ridiculed for what they believe, but also and more importantly, they are willing to risk their lives for what they believe. I might add that many of them are not only willing to risk their lives, they actually give their lives for what they believe. If you watch the news, you can actually witness it happening! Yes, they believe the world is “flat” and they really believe that it is—sincerely, truly, unwaveringly, absolutely, positively, no doubt about it—but like the folk of
Columbus day, they are incorrect, and that intrigues me.
Thankfully, our God has a people—a remnant, we are called—each of whom is on a voyage with Him, a voyage that most people of our day believe to be foolish and ridiculous. We have been called to sail the High Seas of Life with the strangest of missions—to love our enemies; to pray for those who despitefully use us; to give not only our coats, but also our shirts; to go not only one mile, but two; to forgive not only once, but as many times as necessary; to turn the other cheek; rather to be wronged, than to wrong another; never even to notice when another does it wrong; to lay down our lives for one another; to consider the other person as being more important than ourselves; and, I might add, having done all, to stand, and to stand regardless of the cost, even if it means literally giving our lives for what we believe—you know, like the Muslims do!
Could someone please tell me why most of us, who call ourselves Christians, people who, like Columbus, believe the truth, would “tuck tail and run” in the face of adversity, rather than stand up for what we say we believe? Yes, I know that Jesus died, so I would not have to die, but He did so for my justification, not for my witness to the world that I really do believe—sincerely, truly, unwaveringly, absolutely, positively, no doubt about it! He cannot do that for me; I must do it myself, if it gets done.