Throw a rock in a quiet pond, and the ripples from the splash will spread far and wide.

On October 31, 1517, when Luther posted those 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Chapel, he probably did not anticipate the ripples those 95 Theses would cause.  As they were printed and spread throughout Germany, they stimulated much discussion and debate.

And the ripples even reached Rome, so the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor convened a Diet (Council) in the City of Worms in 1520 to call upon Luther to recant and retract his writings.  He responded:

“My conscience is bound to the Word of God. Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I cannot and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor right to do anything against conscience.  Here I stand.  I can do no other.  God help me.  Amen.”

Condemned as a heretic, Luther was forced into hiding in Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German (and years later, the Old Testament as well).  When he could finally leave safely, he resumed his writing and teaching at the university, and his influence spread.  Many from all over Europe came to study under Luther, and they spread his teachings through Germany, Scandinavia, and the British Isles.  Patrick Hamilton studied under Luther and brought his teachings to Scotland.  Hamilton was burned at the stake, but his teachings spread and took hold.

William Tyndale studied under Luther and, inspired by Luther’s German translation, translated the Word of God into English and smuggled Bibles into England.  For this and other alleged heresies, Tyndale was burned at the stake October 6, 1536.  As the flames rose around him, his last words were, “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”

And God answered Tyndale’s prayer.   Only three years late, King Henry VIII had the Great Bible (based largely on Tyndale’s translation) published, placed in churches, and read in worship services. This led to the Geneva Bible of 1560, which was studied by English separatists such as John Robinson, William Brewster, John Carver, and William Bradford.  Persecuted for worshipping God as they believed the Geneva Bible commanded that He be worshipped, they left England and sailed to North America.  And the ripples started by the Reformer of Wittenberg came crashing on the shores of Plymouth.

So as we celebrate Thanksgiving, what can we learn from Luther, Tyndale, and Bradford?

First, even in the worst of adversity, stand firm for the truth of God’s Word.  Luther faced a death sentence; Tyndale was burned at the stake; Bradford and his fellow Pilgrims faced untold dangers as they crossed the Atlantic and settled this formidable wilderness.  But they believed God’s Word, and with courage they risked  everything to obey it.

Second, glorify God with humility and thankfulness.  Humility comes first; one can’t be thankful without humility.  A proud person cannot be thankful, because he thinks everything he has is what he deserves.  To truly glorify God, we must humble ourselves, acknowledge ourselves as sinners, trust in Christ’s redeeming work on the Cross, and thank Him for every blessing He has provided us.

Third, understand what it means to be a pilgrim.  Abraham confessed that he and his family were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” “not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,” and that they “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10-13). We can be pilgrims even though we have never left our home town!  We are good citizens of our country, but we know our ultimate home is heaven.  We can enjoy the world, but we love the Lord.

And fourth, trust God to lead and provide for the future as He has for the past and present.  Just as the ripples from Luther’s stand in Germany spread to England and to the shores of North America, so they spread across America to the Pacific, and through American missionaries throughout the world.  And as Christians who believe God’s Word, we know the best is yet to come!

As Governor Bradford wrote in his History of Plymouth Plantation,

“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.”

Colonel Eidsmoe serves as Chairman of the Board of the Plymouth Rock Foundation  (www.plymrock.org), as Professor of Constitutional Law for the Oak Brook College of Law & Government Policy (www.obcl.edu), and as Senior Counsel for the Foundation for Moral Law (www.morallaw.org).  Those with constitutional concerns may contact the Foundation at (334) 262-1245.  Eidsmoe may be contacted for speaking engagements at eidsmoeja@juno.com. 

Reprinted with permission from 1819News.com