We Have Come This Far by Faith by David Richardson

“We Have Come this Far By Faith” A Statement of Black History and Black Faith Because God is Watching Over Us

The Eye of God

http://www.skyimagelab.com/helixnebula.html

Let’s reflect for a moment on a special segment and frequently neglected segment of our US history- Black American Slaves. Black Slaves endured so much depression, depravity, and disrespect before and after they were liberated from physical bondage in the United States during the sixth decade of the nineteenth century. February has been set aside for us to remember and acknowledge African American ancestry in the United States, and since its inception almost 90 years ago, Black History has become an inextricable part of American history and a bridge between the history of continental African and American history. George Washington Williams, a Civil War Veteran, a politician, and a minister, wrote the first American black history books - A History of Negro Troops in the War of Rebellion and The History of the Negro Race in America 1619–1880. His book focused on the arrival of the first slaves in the North American colonies and concentrated on the major events in American history that involved or affected African Americans. Williams said he wrote the book "to lift the Negro race to its pedestal in American history” as well as "to instruct the present, (and to) inform the future." His book was the earliest and most thorough history of African Americans. George Williams’ explanation for remembering and celebrating Black History is salient, and addresses the question of many uninformed individuals of the essential purpose for celebrating the multiple contributions of Black Americans to the development and maturation of the United States.

Unfortunately, George Washington Williams is not mentioned in primary school history books, or in secondary school history books, or in college history books. Americans do not know the incredible impact that people of his ilk have contributed to the development of this great nation. Sometimes we forget how God has taken us from a deprived existence to a higher existence. God has brought us a “mighty long way” to our present situation because He loves us. His eyes are on us. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right… (Psalm 34:15). We learn from our past so that we may be witnesses now and in the future. We are His witnesses, because He “orders our steps” in preparation for the Utopia that is certain to come. Job in (Job 28:2 and 3) says: 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. 3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of

darkness, and the shadow of death. Job makes a connection with mining in the midst of his hardship and pain, he creates a metaphor where: •Ore that is used to make Iron is easily obtained from the surface of the earth; however, obtaining iron from ore requires work and extreme heat (about 1900oC); and • Brass (an alloy made of copper and zinc) is more complicated to make, and requires the knowledge that a better brass is made by using a greater percentage of copper over the zinc, but both the copper and zinc that make up the brass must be molted out of ores that contain copper and zinc. Iron, brass, and bronze (copper and tin) are ancient metals that have their histories that span thousands of years. Iron is a metal that is made from a smelting process that involves a lot of work and extreme temperatures. Brass and bronze are alloys that involve smelting processes that also involve extreme temperatures and hard work. So the two processes are not easy, and they go through some complicated experiences. Analogous to the production of iron, brass, and bronze, Job experienced real hardships and pain. He compares his affliction to the refining processes for iron and brass, and he has faith to believe that the end product, his life, would be a product that would have exceptional value.

God knows that human beings will experience “rock bottom” circumstances, and when an individual hits “rock bottom,” there are two decisions he/she can make- to stay where he/she is or to go up! Like Job, you can choose to climb from the pit of despair by allowing God to take what appears to be useless rock and refine it, polish it, and make a valuable alloy. Ores and dirt can produce precious and important alloys. Job was like those ores. He appeared to be at a useless point - deprived and degraded. He was down and out, he was destitute, and he felt that there was no way of escape. He had nowhere to go, and he had nowhere to hide. The American slaves endured similar pains. They were at “rock” bottom. Like Job, slaves were physically and emotionally afflicted. Like Job, slaves had to be refined in the fire. And, like Job, their perseverance and endurance opened pathways to where all people, black people, white people, yellows people, and red people, could exercise their freedoms in these United States of America. American slaves endured struggles, sorrows, heartaches, and pains, and anyone who didn’t experience those pains could only imagine what slavery must have been like during the early days of the Americas. Those horrible days of captivity and servitude were days of many struggles and days of difficult survival for African Americans. For over two hundred years and beyond, slaves and free-blacks felt like they were like the dirt and rocks of the earth. But God took what appeared to be meaningless rocks and created polished alloys that have become an important part of sustaining life. Like the ores of the earth, God takes the human spirit, refines it, and polishes it, and makes it valuable. David said in Psalm 144:12 that “He takes our sons and like growing plants, helps them to mature in their youth, and He takes our daughters and polishes them after the similitude of a palace.” There was light at the end of the tunnel, because Job 28:3 says “He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.” God knows the end from the beginning. So like Job, He refined and polished Africans, who were torn from their families and friends in the motherland and forced into American slavery. Where there was darkness, He provided light. He gave them insight to see the future that a better day was coming. So they were able to sing: Better days are coming by and by Don't you get down hearted, don't you cry Troubles will be over, all our joys come over Better days are coming by and by

The story is told of 33 minors who were trapped 2300 feet underground, and the roof of a San José, Chile copper and gold mine collapsed on them. The world was fixated on those miners who survived darkness for 69-days. It was miserable for them being in darkness underground, but God showed them that there was light at the end of their experience. The minors had faith, Job had faith, and the American slaves had faith in God, because they believed that their true home was beyond this earth. Black Americans can relate to those miners trapped 2300 feet beneath the earth’s surface without an avenue of escape. Often Black America is faced with issues that make us feel as though we are buried deep underground. Uninformed people refer to Black Americans as dirt, and Black America thinks that it is trapped in the cavernous regions of injustice and prejudice. Black young men and women are shot in the streets without provocation, Blacks are racially profiled, they are caught in the snares of drug cartels, they are trapped in the caves of misfortunes, they are trapped in the prison of alcoholism, they are trapped in the pit of doubt and confusion. Regardless of being four years short of two decades into the twenty-first century, we hear about the machinery of high profile presidential candidates misusing their authority by banning African American protestors from their political rallies while using the “N” word. The list is endless, but the hand of Jesus liberates all of us from darkness and brings all of us into the light! Humanity is the child of the God, and, in spite of the fact that we are immersed in mud, like Job, He purifies us, He refines us, He polishes us, and He makes us beautiful and molds us into useful and productive products. The Bible is replete with examples where God’s servants were brought from a low place to a high place. • Job lost it all – before God restored him and multiplied his fortunes seven fold. • Moses, a murderer, fled to land of Midian before returning to Egypt to lead his people to the promise land. In Midian, God physically revealed himself to Moses. He revealed himself to others in different ways. • Joseph was thrown into a pit and taken from his beloved mother and father, before he became second in command in Egypt. • Jesus was in a borrowed tomb before He was resurrected and vindicated the character of God, and reconciled the sins of mankind. Great lessons were learned in captivity! Unmentionable atrocities happened to American slaves for more than 200 years before they were finally freed in 1863. Unfortunately, terrible things continued to happen to freed African Americans until the Civil Rights Movement in 1955, and then terrible things continued to happen until now, and terrible things will undoubtedly continue to occur to African Americans until Christ’s eminent return. But, God makes it increasingly better for us, because He refines us and raises us up from those who afflict and enslave us.

Like Job and Israel, God has a purpose for Black Americans. We are in a unique position, because we are at the crossroads of history. We are witnesses to the saga of Black Americans, and Black Americans will prevail, because God is in control! During hardships, we need to lean on God, and not our own understanding! God has covenanted with us to see the promise land, and like Israel, we will cross over. Martin Luther King said, “I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promise land…” Like King, we have seen the promise land! When black slaves were treated as the dirt; when Blacks were denied the opportunity to vote; when Blacks were denied access to restaurant and movie theaters; when Blacks had to sit in the back of the bus or in railroad cars designated for blacks only; when Black Americans had to drink from separate water fountains and use separate bathrooms, they lean on the God and sung songs like “A Little Talk with Jesus;”Ain’t; Going to Tarry Here;” “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round;” “Bye and Bye;” “Deep River;” “Zekiel Saw the Wheel;” “Give Me Jesus;” “I Stood on the River Jordan;” “Nobody Know De Trouble I See;” and “Soon a Will be Done.” God speaks to Black America. He answers our prayers. He wants to refine us, not destroy us. He loves us, and He wants us to love our enemies. He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to weather the storms by being strong … and to put “on the whole armour of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places…take … the whole armor of God, that [we] may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having [our] loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and [our] feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith [we] shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” African Americans continue to have discouragements, but we need to “walk by faith and not by sight.” “Walking by faith” is a demonstration that the Lord is our shepherd; therefore, we shall not want. “He makes us to lie down in green pastures: he leads us beside the still waters. He restores our soul: he leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil: for He is with us; His rod and his staff comfort us. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies: He anoints our heads with oil; our cups run over with His multiple blessings. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all

the days of our lives: and I we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” African Americans will continue to keep their “hands on the plough,” because we recognize how great God is, and that He is in control. Though the road was rough for slaves, and they hit “rock” bottom in American history, they came a “mighty long way” by faith, and they continue to walk in the light, because they believed that there were better days ahead… that there was a promised land where they would eventual find peace - a land where they would be victorious! God provided guides for the journey - guides like Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois, Frederick Douglas, Alice Paul, George Mason George, Martin Luther King, Julian Bond, and many others. Black Americans had no idea that in the twenty-first century a Black American would be the CEO of the very country that enslaved them…even so; we still have a “mighty long way to go.” February is a time for Americans to reflect on the history of Black Americans, because their Black History is an education for all Americans on stamina, fortitude, strength, and resilience. The contributions of Blacks Americans to American History have been unprecedented. This country would not be what it is today if African American hadn’t contributed to its development. For example, many Americans do not know that: •

Benjamin Banneker, a black astronomer, mathematician and writer, built the first working clock in America.

•

George Washing Carver, an agriculture scientist and inventor, produced hundreds of products from the peanut and sweet potato. He saved southern cotton by teaching farmers how to replenish nitrogen in the soil.

•

Charles Drew, a physician, surgeon and medical researcher, invented the very important concept of the blood bank. The true story of Dr. Drew’s demise is that he was in a tragic car accident where he received serious injuries. He was taken to Alamance General Hospital, an Alabama medical facilities for less fortunate "white people.” The white doctors at Alamance began to work immediately on Drew's injuries, but his loss of blood was so great that the doctors could not save him. This historical account is contrary to the urban myth that Dr. Drew was refused a blood transfusion at a white only hospital.

•

Garrett Morgan, black inventor, invented the first traffic signal and the first patented gas mask

In spite of multiple obstacles, Black Americans rose from slavery to freedom, and in doing so, amalgamated into US culture unlike any other race of people with a backgrounds of unmerited treatment of cruelty and injustice. Booker T. Washington

ably put it in his book…”Up From Slavery.” “We have developed black enterprises that were stimulated by our African heritage, and we have developed pride in our fore parents who were Kings and Queens in our African homeland.” We are cognizant of the omnipotence and omniscience of the Creator of this Universe. When Black Americans were enslaved, when Black American hung on trees as “strange fruit;” when Black Americans were denied access to public facilities; when Black Americans are shot on the streets of our cities or mysteriously die behind iron bars, God says, “I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey--the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live." Consequently, He will • Give us the land of our enemies • Restore us seven-fold for our lost • Lift us up, and all we need to do is to look toward the brass serpent Like he did with Job and Israel. When we find ourselves in a dark and dusty environment, When we are in deep trouble with no apparent escape route, When we think we cannot rise above our circumstances, When our predicament appears unresolvable, He will there to lift us from the dust and dirt of the dark caverns, because “We've come this far by faith Leaning on the Lord Trusting in His Holy word He never failed [us] yet Oh' Can't Turn Around We've come this far by faith” Black Americans have the fortitude and the trust in God to let go, and let Him have jurisdiction over our lives.