Priscilla Joy

Today is Christopher Columbus day for all who didn’t know. 🙂 As a tribute to this great man I am posting my report on him I did in August. Enjoy!

Christopher Columbus was a great man of history and we can learn many lessons from his life.
1. Determination: Christopher went from being the son of a weaver to Admiral of the sea. How did this happen? Chistopher was born to a weaver and when he reached the appropriate age his father started training him to carry on the business. Christopher hated it. His heart longed for the ocean.
He and his brother Bartholemew, started a map making business together and Christopher also joined a few voyages to learn more about sailing. Christopher read many books from Marco Polo and soon came up with the idea of sailing west to get to the East and Cathay (China). He now tried to find someone to sponsor his expedition.
For years he pleaded with kings and queens from Portugal, France, Italy and Spain. Christopher never gave up though and finally his determination was rewarded. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain decided to finance him now that the war with the Moors was over.
Christopher had gone from son of a weaver to Admiral of the ocean sea! Through hard work, determination and endurance, Christopher stuck with his God-given idea and went on to find America! (2 Timothy 4:7-8*)
2. Christ-bearer: Christopher felt his expedition was a God-given task. Christopher mean Christ-bearer and Christopher believed that God had called him to bring the light of the gospel to the Indies. On his second voyage, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella sent priests with him to convert the Indians. (Mathew 28:19-20*)
3. Pride: With all the royal titles, riches and attention Christopher was getting, pride started to form in his heart. On one of his voyages back to Spain, there was a great storm. Just like Jonah, Christopher had been running away from God and God was letting him know through a storm.
Still, pride remained. After Christophers first voyage he came back in a parade of pomp and splendor. This made the pride grow. Pride continued to poison Christophers character until later he was humbled and came back to Spain wearig the robe of a monk (more on that later ;)).
We must learn to stay humble before God, even when prosperity comes. We must keep that dangerous pride out of our life. (Proverbs 16:18*)
4. Humility: Christopher struggled with pride but after some events at his colony (Hispaniola), Christopher was unjustly fettered and kept prisoner. Although this was unjust it taught him a lot about himeself and humility. After this humiliation, Christopher didn’t struggle with pride quite as much. (1 Peter 5:6*)
5. Injustice: There were some things that Christopher Columbus did that I do not agree with and I think were unjust. His treatment of the Indians, his haughty leadership, his revenge-filled hate for those who opposed him and his negligence of his wife and children. Christopher Columbus had some struggles especially when governing his lands and although I admire his good qualities I dislike his injustice and harrasment of those around him. (Proverbs 21:15*)
Christopher Columbus was a great man and I learned a lot by looking at his life. Christopher died still thinking that he had discovered the Indies but he actually paved the way for others to follow and settle in the New World- America!

* “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Sprit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded and I will be with you until the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.”
1 Peter 5:6

“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers.”
Proverbs 21:15

**If you want to read more about Christopher Columbus check out “Heroes of History: Christopher Columbus” by Janet and Geoff Benge It is a good book!

Enjoy celebrating this hero!
Priscilla