Sixty-five stormy, sickening days at sea, years of persecution behind them in England, a cold winter and hostile unknown land before them is how the Pilgrim’s were welcomed to the New World which would one day be known as America. As they disembarked there at Cape Cod, though weary, there was a fiery zeal in their souls. They had many trials to face, and one year later, after a meagre harvest and having endured a brutal winter, they rejoiced and gave thanks for what God had provided. Many adventurers were traveling to the New World, in hopes of finding gold. As C.T. Studd would ask, “Are gamblers for gold so many, and gamblers for God so few?”
The handful of families that made up the people now known as “The Pilgrims” were a hardy band of believers in the Lord Jesus. Their passion is well summed up by their noble Governor’s (William Bradford) words.
“Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work. [. . .] Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise!”
What is at the bottom of your thanksgiving feast? Zeal for gold and earthly gain? Or a passion for the propagation of the Gospel? Are you willing to be but a stepping stone in the great work which God is working to establish His Kingdom in this world? Indeed, may the Saints of God in this day and age catch fire from the one small candle which the Pilgrim’s lifted high almost 400 years ago!
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