“In
Worst of All Places”You’ve heard saying that truth is stranger than fiction, but have you ever heard that all things are possible to God? I’m sure you have. And I’m sure that you believe it’s a true statement although it might sound like hyperbole. God does impossible to affirm that He is Sovereign. And because He is Omnipotent, America’s history is sometimes stranger than fiction.
How could a crew of English settlers who had no political ambitions and while living aboard a small ship called Mayflower write a document that would later seed a national democracy? How could a Native American by name of Squanto, who just happened to speak English, one-day show up and offer his assistance in teaching Pilgrims how to survive new world wilderness? These anomalies speak louder than mere coincidences because of national impact they had.
Yes, a greater Authority guided America in becoming a world power that has fed, ministered, and helped protect entire world at one time or another in its history. This invisible hand over America, which has led men to most unlikely places, is what I wish to speak to you about today.
The Westward Shift
America, America, truly God has poured His grace on you. Although colony of Jamestown, Virginia, was first English settlement in New World, it certainly didn’t have spiritual impact on nation that Pilgrims and Puritans had. Why? Jamestown was established with commerce in mind. They wanted wealth first and religion second. Not so with Pilgrims and Puritans, they wanted a new Israel, a new Jerusalem where faith in Jesus Christ and His eternal Word would rule throughout their land.
They struggled for this dream and many died, but their blood became seed that grew to become one nation under God. The Pilgrims actually made a covenant with God to establish His Kingdom in New World. Throughout America’s history in times of its darkest despair, God has remembered that covenant and pulled her up to live again. This is amazing and happened in some very unusual ways.
Up to time of Revolutionary War, Appalachian Mountains served as natural western boundary of colonial America, but with signing of Treaty of Paris in 1783 British ceded land north and west of Appalachians to America. It was rich and fertile land and enticed especially New England farmers who had worn out soil of their ancestors.
When Congress adopted Northwest Ordinance in 1787 which established government of Northwest Territory, states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota were soon to follow. Also some years earlier, Daniel Boone had crossed Cumberland Gap into Kentucky, and stories soon flowed east about virgin land with blue grass.
These land opportunities were just too good to pass up, and Americans caught westward fever. Many historians credit western expansion as most important thing in American history for shaping culture, society, and America’s fierce sense of rugged individualism. You either made it by sweat of your brow, toil of your hands, or you simply died out west.
What Kind of Religion
With America moving west, concern among eastern clergy was what would become of Christian heritage of America. Would American settlers scatter in vast wilderness, cutting themselves off from civilization, and become as heathen as savages whose land they were invading? This was a genuine concern, considering America had been built on Judeo-Christian beliefs. But that was not God’s fear. He had a plan and purpose for western movement, and it soon became apparent. An awakening was coming. It was coming in force and fury, and when it ended (if ever it did end), America would be stronger than ever in its faith in Jesus Christ. This is amazing in how it happened. It started in most unlikely place on face of earth. It started in Logan County Kentucky.
One of roughest counties in all Kentucky was Logan County, out in southwest corner. Technically, it was under United States law, even before Kentucky was admitted to Union in 1796. The trouble was that no one on frontier was designated to enforce law, with result that, as Congress would state, ‘the immunity which offenders experience attracts as to an asylum, most vile and abandoned criminals, and at same time deters useful and virtuous persons from making settlements in such society.’ If you were a horse thief, a robber, a murderer, or just real bad, you were probably in Logan County at this time. And from this very lot of bad bloods, God would later raise up a preacher, saved but just as fearless, to first fight them (literally fight them with his fists) and then win them to Jesus. Truly God works in mysterious ways.
In 1798 Reverend James McGready, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian rode in to Logan County. With buckskin pants and plainspoken sermons, he was soon accepted by frontiersmen as one of one their own. God had raised up three small congregations located on three of rivers in Logan County, Muddy, Red, and Gasper. McGready asked his parishioners to sign a covenant, agreeing to pray every Saturday night and Sunday morning, devoting third Saturday evening and Sunday morning of each month to fasting and prayer.
Things seemed to get worse instead of better, but McGready encouraged saints to keep praying. Within a year revival began to break out. The records report that hardest and most vile sinners in community ‘covered their faces and wept bitterly.’ In June of 1800 at quarterly communion services at Red River church, more than 500 hundred people showed up having heard of earlier conversions. Some of these people had come from as far as 100 miles away from Logan County.
On last day of services that had been scheduled, Spirit of Lord flooded place. In a moment’s time, floor was ‘covered with slain; their screams for mercy pierced heavens.’ One could see ‘profane swearers and Sabbath-breakers pricked to heart and crying ‘What shall we do to be saved?’ Word of outpouring spread throughout wilderness like wild fire.
