Heart Reflections Live

Happy Australia Day Weekend to all Australians, here and overseas.

In the midst of the fun of the Thong-throwing competitions (U.S. readers translate- flip-flops), Cane Toad races (YUK!!), Dunny races, Aussie singalongs, and the snags on the barbie (Sausages on the barbeque), please don't forget the rich Christian heritage on which this nation was sovereignly founded by God.

Have you heard of The Rev. Richard Johnson? He was Australia's first Chaplain and Preacher. He came over with the First Fleet. He was a great man of God with a passion for souls who was a product of the evangelical revival in England. He was hand chosen for the job by, among others, The Rev. John Newton, of "Amazing Grace" fame, and the inspiration for William Wilberforce in England.

" Johnson was a man with a deep sense of calling, a great love of the Bible, a man of prayer and a man of compassion. He often visited the convicts and even took an Aboriginal girl, who had contracted small pox, into his home for several months...
Barry Chant writes in " A Fascinating Look at Australia's Origins", :"It is tempting to draw a contrast between our irreligious settlers and those Pilgrim Fathers who settled the United States. But in fact, hundreds of copies of Scripture were landed here in 1788 thanks to Richard Johnson...he brought 100 Bibles, 400 Testaments and 500 Psalters, 100 Osterwald's necessity for reading the Scriptures, 25 Plain Exhortations to Prisoners, 200 Sermons on the Mount, 200 Exercises Against Lying, 50 Woodward's Caution to Swearers, 200 Christian soldiers... It was providential that Johnson was the first religious figure to come to this land. The Portuguese, the Dutch and the French all sailed around it, touched it... Prior to Cook... they all seemed to head for the Great Southland but then sailed around it!...it almost looks as though an unseen hand redirected those little vessels to other lands. it cannot be coincidence. I believe God had a sovereign purpose for Australia...it was the simple evangelistic gospel that He intended to be proclaimed in this land!... The truth is that the message young Johnson brought to Point Jackson was the nearest to the New Testament that anyone of his day is likely to have proclaimed."

Richard Johnson continued:" I entreat you... to read the word of God carefully. Many of you have had Bibles... given to you...Begin the day with prayer: and... if you find it impracticable to meditate or pray, from the interruptions you are exposed to... If you have families you should call them together, and pray with them and for them. There are many promises made to worshipping families, and those who, like Abraham, endeavour to teach their children and household to know and serve the Lord. (Gen 17:19 Prov 3:33)"

All this information is taken from "Discovering Australia's Christian Heritage" by Col Stringer.

I hope I have gotten you excited if this is new to you. We need to stand strong in the faith, stand for our heritage,teach it to our children, and not let anyone take it from us.

Labels: Christian Heritage