Will There Be A Seward's Day in Your Life?

As I sat down in my chair at my desk in our study on this bright sunny Monday morning, I instinctively glanced at my wall calendar and noticed that today is Seward’s Day in Alaska.  Since I had no idea what that was all about, I let my fingers fly across my keyboard and Googled it up.  What I discovered was that Seward’s Day commemorates when the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, not to be confused with Alaska Day which celebrates the actual transfer of the territory of Alaska from Russia to America and the subsequent raising of the Stars and Stripes at Sitka on October 18, 1867.  William Henry Seward who was the Secretary of State at that time, signed the treaty with Russia on March 30, 1867. 

The price for the purchase was about 7.2 million dollars.  It seems that many people across the country felt that it was an outrageous price and began to call the treaty “Seward’s Folly” or "Seward’s icebox” due to his work in arranging the transaction.  No doubt they had based their comments on all the hardships and great losses the Russians had endured when they owned the “great wasteland” in such a remote outpost.  (For more information check out: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/sewards-day)

As we look back at the purchase today, we can appreciate the foresight that Mr. Seward had.  He definitely saw things that were not visible to others.  Alaska’s natural resources, along with it’s seafood and timber industries have paid back the initial purchase price countless times over!

There is a scripture in the book of Colossians that talks about the good expectations that are found within the pages of the Bible, “which is the message of truth.”  (Colossians 1:5 Gods Word ©)  So, just as Secretary of State William Seward had good expectations concerning the worth of the purchase of what became the state of Alaska on January 3, 1959, we too can have good expectations about our future, when we base our foundations on the Gospel or "Good News" which just happens to let us know the truth about any situation we face!  Thayer’s Greek Definitions explains the meaning of the word “truth” in Colossians 1:5 as: “what is true in any matter under consideration.”  With that assurance, we cannot help but be successful in the endeavors of our lives!

So, don’t allow those who would utter taunt’s of “folly” to stop you from pursuing the activities and goals in life you feel led or called to complete.  Keep your eyes and your trust on that solid foundation and see it through until the results are plainly visible to all!  Stay tuned and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”