I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Veteran’s Day, celebrated annually on November 11th, allows us to properly pay tribute to those who have served America in our nation’s armed forces. It is fitting to recognize them in this way. Yet, there is another group of veterans that we should remember on that day as well. On November 11, 1620, a group of 100 or so pilgrims found calm within the safety of Cape Cod. They were veterans of a 66-day journey from the old world to the new world, about to step onto dry land. Before doing so, they drafted and signed what is now known as the Mayflower Compact, a document that bound them together with common purpose, mutual protection, and civil order. The main body of this document stated:
“Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, 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 into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”
These American forefathers, in the midst of their foundational document, made their purpose clear – bringing glory to God. They were not bashful about declaring that purpose, and used that declaration as a reliable basis for their society. Indeed, that basis carried them successfully through the tough times that they would face. Their faithfulness of purpose allowed them to endure and thrive. Oh that Americans now would realize that the same faithfulness of purpose would allow us to endure and thrive today.
PLEASE PRAY THAT AS AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WE WOULD SEEK TO BRING GLORY TO GOD IN ALL THAT WE DO. Like the pledge of those veterans of an Atlantic crossing four hundred years ago, we should purpose to bring glory to God in whatsoever we do.