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Now thanks [be] to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain on August 3, 1492, driven by the offsetting dreams of fame and fortune and a passion for sharing his Catholic faith. He sought a faster passage to Asia, but his explorer’s courage was canceled out by his navigational shortcomings, landing him in the Bahamas.
Records show similar contradiction in his personal behavior; a sailor who didn’t swear (imagine that!) and conducted religious rites while en route also enslaved hundreds of natives and force his beliefs on them. Columbus was a classic example of a “double-minded man” (James 1:8), with the accompanying instability and hypocrisy.
It’s easy these days to bash Columbus as some Old World imperialist, a product of the greed and legalism of his day, but it’s not that simple. His malady goes much farther back in history, all the way to Eden. The apostle John described this problem as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).
When you set your eyes on something you want—a wife, a job, a car—vet it through that lens. All truly great endeavors are stamped by God’s ultimate glory, not your instant gratification. Everywhere you go and everything you do should, as a priority, promote His agenda.
Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain on August 3, 1492, driven by the offsetting dreams of fame and fortune and a passion for sharing his Catholic faith. He sought a faster passage to Asia, but his explorer’s courage was canceled out by his navigational shortcomings, landing him in the Bahamas.
Records show similar contradiction in his personal behavior; a sailor who didn’t swear (imagine that!) and conducted religious rites while en route also enslaved hundreds of natives and force his beliefs on them. Columbus was a classic example of a “double-minded man” (James 1:8), with the accompanying instability and hypocrisy.
It’s easy these days to bash Columbus as some Old World imperialist, a product of the greed and legalism of his day, but it’s not that simple. His malady goes much farther back in history, all the way to Eden. The apostle John described this problem as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).
When you set your eyes on something you want—a wife, a job, a car—vet it through that lens. All truly great endeavors are stamped by God’s ultimate glory, not your instant gratification. Everywhere you go and everything you do should, as a priority, promote His agenda.
