Dedication for as Long as the Earth Remains
Before America was born, its land was dedicated to God. In 1607, Pastor Robert Hunt landed on the shores of Cape Henry in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and rallied the settlers and sailors next to a cross they mounted on the beach and prayed over the land:
We do hereby dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains, and may this Land, along with England, be Evangelist to the World. May all who see this Cross, remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this Covenant and in this most noble work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled.
The objective was clear, succinctly laid out for generations to follow: reach others for Jesus, here and abroad, and raise up Godly generations as long as the earth remains. The continued covenant between American citizens and God requires that we stay dedicated to our faith and noble work. Recently at our Nation’s Capital, people have gathered to pray and rededicate America to the Lord. When I think of dedication, it’s usually preceded by the words hard work, but there is another word that is also synonymous with dedication, and that’s faith. For our country to remain under the freedom of God’s blessing and favor, it requires hard work and faith, from not only past generations but from every generation.
Dedication is a form of faith because it is the decision to move forward and put in effort and resources, even when progress is slow. It’s trust that our efforts matter, despite not seeing immediate results. It’s a realization that we are not walking alone. God has a purpose and a plan to prosper us and to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Dedication chooses faith over fear, even when the future is uncertain, and demonstrates that there is a greater purpose, working behind the scenes, developing humility, patience, and resilience within us.
The settlers of Jamestown couldn’t have envisioned the grandness of the America we have today. They suffered famine, factionalism, political division, and a survival crisis after a failed try at socialism, with evidence that some resorted to cannibalism. At one point, the settlers gave up and were ready to return to England. But as they packed their bags, Captain Christopher Newport sailed into the bay after being shipwrecked for a year in Bermuda. God provided supplies, and Jamestown became the first successful American settlement. But the success of Jamestown wasn’t about their personal achievement, but more about the grace of God.
When we dedicate our lives and efforts to God, they become an offering. Any work we do, growth we sustain, kindness we show, character we build, all become part of a future legacy we’re creating. And as Robert Hunt prayed, may our legacy be “to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains.”
Amen.