Daily Devotional

Harvard University was founded in Massachusetts in 1638, just 18 years after the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. Like most Ivy league schools, Harvard was established primarily to train ministers of the gospel and to evangelize the Atlantic seaboard. It’s founding principles were clearly stated in Harvard’s “Rules and Precepts” adopted in 1646. That document included the following instructions for all Harvard students: “Everyone shall consider the main end of his life and studies to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life.” In those days all Harvard students were required to read their Bibles twice a day and give an account for their thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. It’s no surprise why 52% of all graduates from Harvard in the 17th century became ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Sadly, it didn’t take long for Harvard’s spiritual emphasis to fade into historical oblivion. But God was still on His throne! As Harvard declined spiritually, in 1701 God raised up Yale University with the same commitment to train people to spread the Gospel. Forty-five years later, in 1746, Princeton University sprang up, in part, because of the revival fires fueled by the First Great Awakening. Then in 1754, Dartmouth University was launched as a missionary school, primarily training people to reach the American Indians and English-speaking young people.

My friends, with the exception of the University of Pennsylvania, every collegiate institution founded prior to the Revolutionary War was established to promote the Christian faith. Sadly by the time of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 many of the Ivy League schools had lost their evangelical fervor. How sad to see that same thing happening today, even in our once solid Bible colleges and seminaries.          

However, God is still on His throne. He is raising up formal and informal elementary, secondary, university and post-graduate institutions committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to the spread of the Gospel. May their tribe increase. History remains His Story!

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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