Erin Church Devotionals: Why We Should Still Celebrate Columbus Day

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (NIV)

Today is Columbus Day but the only way most people are going to notice it, will take place when they look for their mail. The Post Offices are usually closed, although even that may have changed because we just don’t celebrate or commemorate this holiday like we used to. I wonder if the schools even talk about Columbus’ journey to the New World? It seems like we want to forget it ever took place. Some people even think of it in terms of an invasion force, as opposed to a voyage of discovery.

Columbus’ log of the journey reflects a lot of his faith, which he shared with Queen Isabella of Spain. Part of his mission was to try to find a route to China, but he also saw it as a means of spreading the Gospel to people across the world. His journal of the voyage begins with the solemn words “In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He saw himself as being the primary vehicle of bringing Christ’s words across the globe. As Columbus himself put it, "I feel persuaded by the many and wonderful manifestations of Divine Providence in my especial favor, that I am the chosen instrument of God in bringing to pass a great event-no less than the conversion of millions who are now existing in the darkness of sin."

Whatever we think about this special day, there’s no denying the fact that all of us have benefited by his journey. None of us would be here if Columbus hadn’t sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The timeline that we are living under would never have happened without that voyage of perseverance and discovery. His story is our story, too.

Perseverance is something that Columbus had to keep in order for his voyage to succeed. In today’s Bible passage, we also read about Moses’ perseverance in the face of temptation and corruption, which enabled him to break free of the Egyptian court and eventually led him to deliver his people from slavery. Again, his story becomes the story of his people. Without Moses’ perseverance and faith, none of it would have transpired, in which case, none of our faith in Christ would exist today.

I guess what I’m trying to express is that there is a fragile timeline of connectionalism which links us to the past. Without those events, we would not exist. Without Moses or Columbus, our world would be entirely different today. That’s why commemorating Columbus Day should be important to us. That’s why acknowledging the great moments of discovery in the past should help us to appreciate the present and look forward to the future.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Time is a mysterious element which is fundamental to our lives. Past events are all connected to our present conditions and our faith is tied up to moments in history that were world changing events. Grant us an appreciation of how important past discoveries and faithful events have had in shaping our faith, beliefs, and church. In Your Holy Name, we live and pray. Amen.