It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 1 Land of Promise Program No. 1418 SPEAKER: JOHN BRADSHAW Ellis Island the main port of entry for people coming to America between 1890 and 1954. Millions of men, women and children entered the United States via Ellis Island. My wife's great grandmother was one of them, arriving here from Norway in 1913, one of so many who came seeking a future in this land of promise. The island was originally owned by a man named Samuel Ellis. For a time, the State of New York leased the island, and in 1808 it was acquired by the US Government. Technically, Ellis Island is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, not New York State or New York City. But it was through the Port of New York City that most immigrants passed. This is Castle Clinton, it was used as an immigration station before Ellis Island from 1855 to 1890. Eight million people passed through here, 12 million passed through Ellis Island and today one-third of the population of the United States is descended from these immigrants. Not everybody who entered the United States via the ports of New York City had to go through Ellis Island. Ellis Island was reserved largely for those who traveled here in the steerage class, or the steerage portion of the ship. Steerage makes you travel in the very lowest decks of the ship and it was by far the cheapest way of getting from there to here. But traveling steerage wasn't for the faint of heart. It was difficult. The passengers were often exploited or mistreated by the crew and the officers. It wasn't uncommon for them to sell to the passengers life's basic necessities, such as drinking water, and usually at exorbitant prices. Women were frequently mistreated. Sanitation wasn't pretty. It wasn't unusual for the passengers traveling in the upper decks to throw bread rolls or coins down to the poor folks down there in steerage class. They weren't doing it out of pity but they were doing it out of scorn. And then those wealthy patrons were free, in most cases, to simply disembark onto American soil and here they were, without having to be subject to the medical and other screening and processing that Ellis Island provided.
It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 2 The first full-service immigration inspection station on Ellis Island was completed in 1891 and it was opened January 1, 1892 to some considerable celebration. Three large ships docked at Ellis Island that day and 700 immigrants were processed. In that first year, 450,000 people came through Ellis Island. Over the next five years, a million and a half more. The biggest year in Ellis Island's history in terms of immigration numbers was 1907. A little over one million people came through Ellis Island in that year alone. Those who were approved to stay in the United States typically spent somewhere between 2 hours and 5 hours at Ellis Island, during which time they were asked a total of 29 questions, including name, occupation, and how much money a person had. If you had somewhere around $ 20 or a little over, it was considered that you would most likely be able to support yourself and you wouldn't become a public charge and that was important to the government at that time. Some people were rejected. Some unskilled labors were refused permission to enter the United States based on that one issue alone. It wasn't uncommon for Ellis Island immigrants to change their names upon arriving in the United States. Some who didn't change their names when they got here changed them a generation or so later. The reason was prejudice against non-anglo immigrants into these United States was very real and it continued for many decades. Most of the major immigrant groups, I'm thinking of the Jewish and the Irish and the Polish, the Swedish, the Germans, the Italians suffered significant prejudice or persecution from those who were here already and considered themselves to be the real Americans. Two percent of the immigrants didn t make it in. They were turned around and sent home, back to their home country and it was usually because of a criminal record or insanity or because of disease or illness. Some people came and then spent time in Ellis Island s medical facilities and hospitals. They would recuperate and then be allowed into the United States. The medical personnel would often mark their patients with chalk, indicating what illnesses or diseases the people were suffering from but those would-be immigrants wised up and realized that chalk could be wiped off or clothes could simply be turned inside out, foiling the inspectors whose job it was to send those people back home. During this time, Ellis Island was known as the place of hope and tears. Hope because those who were committed to come ashore were about to start a new life in a new land. Tears, because sometimes the people were not permitted to come ashore and they had to deal with the sadness of being turned around and sent home. Over there on Ellis Island there is a place known as the "Kissing Post" where waiting relatives would greet their loved ones who would arrive and were going to be staying here in the United States and heavy-hearted family and friends would farewell those who were not allowed to remain here. That had to be tough. Ellis Island is a remarkable piece
It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 3 of history. It s a doorway, a portal, an entry point into the greatest land of promise this world has ever offered. But there's another land of promise, the true land of promise, and it is not reached by going through Ellis Island. It's reached by going through Jesus Christ, the real land of promise. I'll have more in just a moment. OFFER When you hear the word heaven, what comes to your mind? If it's little more than harps and clouds, my guess is you might not be too excited about spending an eternity there! But the Bible has good news for you! Heaven is a very real place for real people! And God has great things in store for you there. If you d like to know what the Bible says about heaven, let me send you a booklet called, As Good As It Gets. It's absolutely FREE. Just call (800) 253-3000 and ask for "As Good As It Gets." If the line's busy, do keep on trying. You can write to It Is Written, P.O. Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 37401, and we'll mail a free copy to your address in North America. Our toll-free number is 1 (800) 253-3000, and our web address is ItIsWritten.com. EVERY WORD When you think about the things that really matter to you, what comes to mind? The Bible says in Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) to, "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." That's not to say that there aren't things or people we're fond of, but the things that matter most, that ought to take priority in our lives are "heavenly" things. Compare how much time you put into spiritual growth with the amount of time you put into other things. You might find you put a lot of time into TV and little time into the Bible, more time on Facebook than in prayer. It can be so easy to make tons of time for inconsequential matters, while making little time for God. But Paul's encouragement to us is to put God first, and not to give Him just the leftovers of our lives. I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. Let's live today by Every Word. RETURN TO PROGRAM This is It Is Written. Thanks for joining me today. I'm John Bradshaw and I'm in New York City and right over there is Ellis Island. Now I would have loved to have taken you with me to Ellis Island today but I am not allowed to go to Ellis Island today because following Hurricane damage, Ellis Island is now a "no go area" expected to open a little later on. But whether you can get there or not and I can tell you this from experience because I have been there, Ellis Island is a fantastically inspiring place and it just oozes history. So many Americans have stories to tell that have their roots in Ellis Island. Isaac Asimov, born in Russia to parents of Jewish decent passed through Ellis Island at the age of three with his parents and siblings. He did most of his growing up in Brooklyn, New York, right across the bay from Ellis Island. He taught himself to read when he was
It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 4 five years old and then finished high school and college early. Asimov went on to become famous as a scientist and writer. Like countless others, his story represents the promise for which millions cross the Atlantic, seeking both material and spiritual freedom. Like the stories of countless others, his story represents the promise that so many millions crossed the Atlantic to find the promise of spiritual and material freedom. But of course, not every immigrant story turned out quite so well. There were those who came here looking for freedom and looking for a new start and looking for fortune and they didn't find it. Some were disappointed, some were disillusioned, some ended up bitter. The story is told of one man who was told before he came here that he would discover that the streets of New York City were paved with gold. He scoffed when he returned home and said "I found there was no gold, no streets and I did most of the paving." But most who came to America stayed in America. Hope was in the air, a glorious future beckoned. Liberty and justice were officially this nation's guiding principles. New York Governor Alfred E. Smith spoke many years ago about God's purpose for the United States and he said God made this country to be a haven of repose and a harbor of refuge for the poor and the down-trodden and the oppressed of every land. John Jakes, one of America's most famous historical novelists wrote a book some years ago. He wrote the story of a young German immigrant who came to the United States in the 1890's. At first he found here much in which he could rejoice, but then after a while he himself started to experience family disharmony and cruel oppression and racial bigotry. In time, he learned to love his new land and its forward-looking spirit. Jakes tells the story in a book entitled Homeland. The Bible talks about a Homeland, the true haven for the downtrodden, the oppressed, and the poor from throughout the world. We read about it in the last chapters of the Bible, Revelation 21 and 22. Here's what John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away." That's Revelation 21:1. He goes on to describe the Holy City, New Jerusalem, as being prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and then he writes, And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying: Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying and there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." New York City Mayor David Dinkins was fond referring to New York City as a gorgeous mosaic of ethnic and cultural diversity. You come to New York City and you realize right away it is a big place, 8.5 million inhabitants. Landmarks and icons everywhere. For instance, right there, is the Empire State Building. It feels in much of New York City like
It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 5 a remarkably safe place because New York City is a collection of neighborhoods and in many of them, it's common to see women walking alone late at night. That's how safe they either feel or are. But in other parts of New York City, maybe you wouldn't try that. Some parts of the city aren't very easy on the eye but generally New York City is beautiful and often incredibly so. New York Harbor, that jewel in the middle of Manhattan known as Central Park and this place Highline Park. It used to be an elevated railroad servicing New York City's industrial area. But it is being developed in the recent years into an Oasis. And on perfect days like this, people come here to enjoy its beauty and its rest. Now of course, New York City has not always lived up to its beauty and promise, just like any other place on earth. But God's city, the New Jerusalem, will be everything he says it will be. There will be no crime. There won't be any pain. There won't be any sadness and there won't be any death. No political corruption, no financial malfeasance, no selfish grasping after position and power. God's city will be a model of perfect unity, of harmony, of integrity and love. The Apostle John speaks about the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation when he says this: "And the city is laid out as a square and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with a reed, 12,000 furlongs. Its length, breadth and height are equal." Now let's think about that. You know what we are talking about here? A city 375 miles in length, breadth and height. Talk about high-rise living. The people of Manhattan are going to feel right at home. This is remarkable. This city is going to be so tall that it stretches into space. It will sit on the earth like a cube and its length and breadth and height will be exactly the same. Remarkable! But now let's think a little bit more because the Apostle John had more to say about this incredible place. "And the construction of the wall was of jasper and the city was pure gold like clear glass and the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. And the 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each individual gate was of one pearl and the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass." It is hard to even imagine a city as glorious as this but this is what God promises to all who claim his pardon and his transforming power. John goes on to write more to describe the city and the amazing diversity that is to be found there.
It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 6 "And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it." New York City is a remarkably diverse place. But even the diversity of New York City cannot compare to what is going to be experienced when the saved of all ages enter into God's Holy City in the new earth. At that time, people from all eras of this earth's history will gather and dwell together in the presence of God in complete and perfect harmony. And just as would-be immigrants into these United States were not granted unconditional entry when they came through Ellis Island, so people will not be given unconditionally the gift of salvation. The Bible says this, the ancient apostle wrote these words in Revelation 21:27 (NKJV), "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." Earlier in the same chapter you read a similar verse. He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7 (NKJV). Throughout the book of Revelation, this is the promise we find. Those who have experienced victory over the power of sin through the power of God's grace, those who have given their lives to God, who have lived surrendered lives as Jesus lives his life in them these are the ones that God can trust in heaven. Here is Revelation 3:5, "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels" (NKJV) And that can be your experience. Writing to the Colossians, Paul stated that the mystery of the Gospel was Christ in you the hope of glory. These days, if you travel from one country to another you are going to have to have a passport. Our passport into the true land of promise is Jesus Christ. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you have surrendered to him, then you can live in confidence, confident that one day soon you'll be living with him in that world made new. Four years before her death in 1883, Emma Lazarus wrote the lines chiseled at the base of the statue of liberty whose torch still beckons multitudes to a better life in America. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teaming shores. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." But a better and a greater open door beckons us. The light of God's word welcomes the faithful with a torch that shines far more brightly than the light in New York Harbor. And all are invited... the weary, the wayward, the wretched, the tempest-tossed. If you'll allow God's saving, transforming grace to transform you, then you can look forward confidently to being a forever citizen of God's true land of promise. OFFER When you hear the word heaven, what comes to your mind? If it's little more than harps and clouds, my guess is you might not be too excited about spending an eternity
It Is Written Script: 1418 Land of Promise Page 7 there! But the Bible has good news for you! Heaven is a very real place for real people! And God has great things in store for you there. If you d like to know what the Bible says about heaven, let me send you a booklet called, As Good As It Gets. It's absolutely FREE. Just call (800) 253-3000 and ask for "As Good As It Gets." If the line's busy, do keep on trying. You can write to It Is Written, P.O. Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 37401, and we'll mail a free copy to your address in North America. It Is Written is a faith-based ministry supported by people like you. Your help makes it possible for us to share God's good news with the world. Your tax-deductible gift can be sent to the address on your screen, or you can support us online at ItIsWritten.com. Thank you for your continued prayerful support. Our toll-free number is 1 (800) 253-3000, and our web address is ItIsWritten.com. PRAYER Let's take this opportunity to pray together. Our Father in heaven, thank you that we can know you welcome us into your land of promise. Before this time, so many people came into this land of freedom through the doorway that was Ellis Island and they became Americans. Now as we enter by faith into that land known as your eternal kingdom through not Ellis Island but Jesus, we become yours. We thank you for that. Keep us, please, and let your grace transform us and fit us for eternity in your presence. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. It Is Written PO Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 37401 USA Tel: 423-362-5800 Fax: 1-877-507-3239 www.itiswritten.com