ALL IN
God-fearing - Courageous - Sacrifical
Nancy Y. Harvey
3/3/20264 min read
Many years ago, as I was walking through a notable bookstore, a book entitled ALL IN, by Mark Batterson captured my attention; as well as the first chapter Pack Your Coffin, which is both riveting and inspiring.
“A century ago, a band of brave souls became known as one – way missionaries. They purchased single tickets to the mission field without the return half. And instead of suitcases, they packed their few earthly belongings into coffins. As they sailed out of port, they waved goodbye to everyone they loved, everything they knew. They knew they’d never return home.
A.W. Milne was one of those missionaries. He set sail for the New Hebrides in the South Pacific, knowing full well that the headhunters who lived there had martyred every missionary before him. Milne did not fear for his life, because he had already died to himself. His coffin was packed. For thirty-five years, he lived among that tribe and loved them. When he died, tribe members buried him in the middle of their village and inscribed this epitaph on his tombstone:
When he came there was no light.
When he left there was no darkness.
When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? That faithfulness is holding the fort? That playing it safe is safe? That there is any greater privilege than sacrifice? That radical is anything but normal?
Jesus didn’t’ die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell.
The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan.
The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical. It’s normal.
It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
It’s time to go all in and all out for the All in All.
Pack your coffin!”
I used this story as a preamble for the rest of my blog post.
To be “all in” is not for the faint of heart. People who decide to put God first, stand courageously, and have no problem sacrificing whatever it takes for the greater good, are in a class by themselves.
Both the Pilgrims and America’s Founding Fathers were “all in!”
The 1599 Geneva Bible was the first Bible printed and translated into English; that providentially fall into the hands of the Pilgrims. As they began reading the truth of God’s word for themselves, they soon realized that true freedom comes from God and NOT man. Most especially freedom does not come from a King, Queen, Bishop, or Pope.
After receiving this great epiphany, they decided to sell all that they owned, leave what was familiar; and sail to a new world, in hopes of enjoying religious freedom. This was truly a noble and righteous cause. These people who were God-fearing and courageous; decided to choose sacrifice over security for something greater than themselves. The following quote by Governor William Bradford of Plymouth clearly describes their true intent.
“Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and an inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways towards 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.”
You can learn more about the Pilgrims by reading Dr. Marshall Foster’s book, The American Covenant – The Untold Story, and by watching the DVD entitled, Monumental produced by Kirk Cameron. Also, there is a beautiful book entitled, Forefathers Monument Guidebook, by Michelle Gallagher that she so beautifully wrote and illustrated. These are all wonderful resources that I highly recommend.
Let’s now move on and talk about our courageous, God-fearing Founding Fathers who sacrificed it all for the formation of this long-lasting Republic.
God in His infinite wisdom and power chose fifty-six, like-minded and courageous men, to establish America with an idea of liberty and freedom for all. These fifty-six men were inspired by Almighty God (Divine Providence) to live with integrity, to value speaking the truth, and respecting others.
God had entrusted to them a monumental task, of separating themselves from Great Britian, and establishing a new nation built upon Judeo-Christian principles and values, that would allow freedom and justice to reign.
The words penned in the Declaration of Independence were some of the most impactful ever written. Such as…
“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 them are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
These words showed the world that these men trusted and believed in Almighty God. They were most definitely “all in!”
Their courageous actions lead them to create the most prosperous and free country the world has ever known. Thirteen colonies joined together, and the rest is history.
While much has been written over the years to dismiss the fact that America was founded upon the Biblical principles of Christianity, all the revisionists cannot change the documented facts.
Anyone who examines the original writings, biographies, personal correspondence, and public statements made by our Founding Fathers will soon recognize that their thinking and lives were influenced by a Biblical worldview.
We need the citizens of America to be “all in” for the preservation of this great Republic.
“The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart.” President Thomas Jefferson.
I became “all in” on August 27, 1995, when I decided to make Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of my life. I gladly repented of my sins and asked Jesus to forgive me of all my transgression, come live inside of me, and make me a new person. This was the day that I was “born again!” Hallelujah!!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that he world through Him might be saved.” John 3: 16 – 17.
God is looking for warriors who will follow Him all the days of their lives and will ultimately spend eternity with Him in heaven.
