First Landing at Cape Henry, Virginia April 29, 1607 Declaration by Robert Hunt 

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 evangelists 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 this most noble work, that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled. From these very shores the gospel shall go forth, not only to this new world, but the entire world. 

Psalm 22:27-28 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules among the nations.

Cape Henry can teach us a lesson

I’ve spent the last few days parked in historical accounts of Christians that have gone before. Today Cape Henry came up in my history studies. In 1606, 144 Englishmen set across the ocean to the new world. Can you imagine? 4 and ½ months at sea? To add to the voyage it was during the winter. I can’t imagine how cold their toes were. I know it’s silly, but I can’t stand having cold toes, ever. No phones, no technology, just maps, wind, and faith. I am sure that they spent a lot of time in prayer. You would have to, the sea can be quite punishing and unforgiving. 

When the men landed, they built a memorial cross

After the grueling seas, the men came to shore and built a memorial cross. At that time, the creed above was read. After all the long duration of the plight of the seas, they dedicated their lives to God. To me, with all the creature comforts of home I’d probably ask, “Where is the shower?” “Can I have a proper cup of tea and a warm meal?” There would be a variety of requests that I would probably ask before dedicating my very existence to God (I am kidding, I would thank God but I would want a warm shower.) Yet there is a lesson to be learned in this creed. Before everything in the world inevitably creeps in, it might very well be best to dedicate ourselves to the service of God. 

The creed of the travelers was a heartfelt prayer

What does the creed tell us? Their wishes, their desire was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In their choice of a verse of dedication, they were declaring God’s omnipotence and omnipresence in the world. The New Living Translation sums it up best. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. God is the ruler of it all, even their “new world” that they were brave enough to travail. 

The beginning of Psalm 22 provides great insight to the Cross at Cape Henry

If you back up to the beginning of the Psalm, you will see a prophecy that was given to David of the suffering of Jesus on the Cross for our sins. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Those words (and words in the subsequent verses) were uttered and suffered by Jesus on the cross. While the psalmist David did suffer great highs and great loss in his life. This Psalm pointed to Jesus. I often marvel that God would use us mere humans to accomplish His will on the earth. He doesn’t have to, yet He desires to walk with us. I often tell people, God does not give us scriptures or wisdom by chance, He has His will and purpose for us and those around us in mind. In sharing the creed and scripture, the travelers were open to God’s will for the United States. The Psalm pointed to the cross that was erected hundreds of years ago, much like the psalm that was read. 

Why does Cape Henry matter today?

History has its challenges to be sure. There are definite grievances that can be taken by the sordid history of the United States. I would also say that most, if not all countries have a sordid past that is not the best reflection of history as a whole. But, God in His grace has given us a blueprint to continually pray for renewal and restoration of the basic tenets of life. That is what Cape Henry teaches us. The creed was a prayer and a promise. Have you lost faith in our country and humanity? Pray this prayer of the intrepid travelers of long ago. Read it out loud. Remember that the true Gospel of Jesus in His greatest commandments. To love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. 

The Amplified Bible gives a great translation of the greatest commandments

The Amplified version sums these commandments up best:  And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. That was the purpose and credo of our founding fathers. That idea is taken further in Psalm 22. God does indeed rule all. 

The Cape May Credo can give us hope in our divisive times

I’ve searched high and low for some solace during these divisive times. Yesterday at church I spoke with a sweet lady who has age and wisdom. She lived during the 1960’s. She told me that those times were indeed divided greatly as a nation but our current time? She said it is absolutely stretched so thin that our society may indeed break. The Cape Henry Credo can be a prayer of faith for us as a country. A prayer for faith, forgiveness, healing, love and our future.  Our founders wanted us to dwell in the goodness of God. May their memory be a blessing.