Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001283
00:01 [Music] Ellis Island.
00:06 The main port of entry for people coming to America 00:13 between 1890 and 1954. 00:16 Millions of men, women and children entered the United 00:20 States via Ellis Island. 00:23 My wife's great grandmother was one of them, 00:26 arriving here from Norway in 1913, one of so many 00:30 who came seeking a future in this land of promise. 00:37 The island was originally owned by a man named Samuel Ellis. 00:40 For a time, the State of New York leased the island 00:45 and in 1808 it was acquired by the US Government. 00:52 Technically, Ellis Island is located in Jersey City, New 00:57 Jersey, not New York State or New York City. 01:01 But it was through the Port of New York City that most 01:06 immigrants passed. 01:14 [Music] It has stood the test of time, 01:25 God's book, the Bible. 01:30 Still relevant in today's complex world. 01:35 It Is Written, 01:38 sharing hope around the globe. 01:52 [Music] 01:58 This is Castle Clinton, it was used as an immigration 02:01 station from 1855 to 1890. 02:07 Eight million people passed through here, 12 million passed 02:10 through Ellis Island and today one-third of the population 02:14 of the United States is descended from 02:16 these immigrants. 02:21 Not everybody who entered the United States via 02:23 the ports of New York City had to go through Ellis Island. 02:28 Ellis Island was reserved largely for those who traveled 02:31 here in the steerage class, or the steerage portion 02:34 of the ship. 02:35 Steerage makes you travel in the very lowest decks 02:38 of the ship and it was by far the cheapest way 02:40 of getting from there to here. 02:42 But traveling steerage wasn't for the faint of heart. 02:46 It was difficult. 02:48 The passengers were often exploited or mistreated 02:51 by the crew and the officers. 02:53 It wasn't uncommon for them to sell to the passengers life's 02:56 basic necessities, such as drinking water, and usually 02:59 at exorbitant prices. 03:01 Women were frequently mistreated. 03:04 Sanitation wasn't pretty. 03:06 It wasn't unusual for the passengers 03:09 traveling in the upper decks to throw bread rolls or coins 03:13 down to the poor folks down there in steerage class. 03:15 They weren't doing it out of pity but they were doing it 03:18 out of scorn. 03:20 And then those wealthy patrons were free, in most cases, 03:23 to simply disembark onto American soil 03:26 and here they were, without having to be subject 03:30 to the medical and other screening and processing 03:32 that Ellis Island provided. 03:34 The first full-service immigration inspection station 03:39 on Ellis Island was completed in 1891 and it was opened 03:42 January 1, 1892 to some considerable celebration. 03:47 Three large ships docked at Ellis Island that day and 700 03:51 immigrants were processed. 03:53 In that first year, 450,000 people came through 03:57 Ellis Island. 03:58 Over the next five years, a million and a half more. 04:01 The biggest year in Ellis Island's history in terms 04:04 of immigration numbers was 1907. 04:07 A little over one million people came through Ellis Island 04:11 in that year alone. 04:13 Those who were approved to stay in the United States typically 04:16 spent somewhere between 2 hours and 5 hours at Ellis Island, 04:20 during which time they were asked a total of 29 questions, 04:23 including name, occupation, and how much money 04:27 a person had. 04:28 If you had somewhere around $ 20 or a little over, 04:31 it was considered that you would most likely be able to support 04:35 yourself and you wouldn't become a public charge 04:38 and that was important to the government 04:40 at that time. 04:41 Some people were rejected. 04:43 Some unskilled labors were refused permission to enter 04:47 the United States based on that one issue alone. 04:50 It wasn't uncommon for Ellis Island immigrants to change 04:54 their names upon arriving in the United States. 04:57 Some who didn't change their names when they got here 04:59 changed them a generation or so later. 05:01 The reason was prejudice against non-Anglo immigrants 05:05 into these United States was very real and it continued 05:08 for many decades. 05:10 Most of the major immigrant groups, I'm thinking 05:12 of the Jewish and the Irish and the Polish, the Swedish, 05:15 the Germans, the Italians suffered significant prejudice 05:18 or persecution from those who were here already and considered 05:22 themselves to be the real Americans. 05:26 Two percent of the immigrants didn4t make it in. 05:29 They were turned around and sent home, 05:31 back to their home country and it was usually because 05:34 of a criminal record or insanity or because of disease 05:38 or illness. 05:39 Some people came and then spent time in Ellis Island4s medical 05:43 facilities and hospitals. 05:44 They would recuperate and then be allowed 05:46 into the United States. 05:48 The medical personnel will often mark their patients 05:51 with chalk, indicating what illnesses or diseases the people 05:55 were suffering from but those would-be immigrants wised 05:57 up and realized that chalk could be wiped off or clothes 06:02 could simply be turned inside out, foiling the inspectors 06:08 whose job it was to send those people back home. 06:13 During this time, Ellis Island was known as the place of hope 06:17 and tears. 06:18 Hope because those who were permmitted to come ashore 06:22 were about to start a new life in a new land. 06:25 Tears, because sometimes the people were not permitted 06:28 to come ashore and they had to deal with the sadness of being 06:31 turned around and sent home. 06:34 Over there on Ellis Island there is a place known 06:36 as the "Kissing Post" where waiting relatives 06:39 would greet their loved ones who would arrive and were going 06:42 to be stayúg here in the United States 06:44 and heavy-hearted family and friends would farewell those 06:49 who were not allowed to remain here. 06:53 That had to be tough. 06:55 Ellis Island is a remarkable piece of history. 06:57 It4s a doorway, a portal, an entry point into the greatest 07:02 land of promise this world has ever offered. 07:06 But there's another land of promise, the true land 07:09 of promise, and it is not reached by going 07:12 through Ellis Island. 07:14 It's reached by going through Jesus Christ, the real land 07:19 of promise. 07:20 I'll have more in just a moment. 07:24 In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God says, "It is written man shall 07:29 not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from 07:33 the mouth of God." 07:34 Every Word is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional 07:37 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed 07:39 especially for busy people like you. 07:41 Look for Every Word on selected networks, or watch it on-line 07:46 everyday on our website itiswritten.com. 07:50 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 07:52 Watch Every Word. 07:53 You'll be glad you did. 07:55 Here's a sample. 08:06 According to the Bible, sin begins with temptation. 08:10 Logical enough. 08:11 What's key in our experience isn't so much whether or not 08:14 we're tempted, because temptation is everywhere. 08:16 It's what you do when temptation comes that's really 08:19 important. 08:20 If you're tempted to yell at your spouse or take something 08:22 that isn't yours or say something that isn't true, 08:24 there are moments in that process when you can 08:26 do something that will get you out of that situation. 08:29 Listen to this, it's Psalm 91:15. 08:34 "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: 08:36 I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, 08:38 and honour him." 08:39 When temptation comes, if you'll call upon God, 08:42 He'll deliver you. 08:43 He promises to. 08:44 Often, though, we don't think to call on God when temptation 08:47 comes. 08:47 But if you do, you'll be happier, and if you do, you'll 08:52 be victorious every time. 08:54 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 08:55 Let's live today by Every Word. 08:59 This is It Is Written. 09:00 Thanks for joining me today. 09:01 I'm John Bradshaw and I'm in New York City and right over 09:06 there is Ellis Island. 09:08 Now I would have loved to have taken you with me to Ellis 09:11 Island today but I am not allowed to go to Ellis Island 09:15 today because following Hurricane damage, Ellis Island 09:18 is now a "no go area" expected to open 09:21 a little later on. 09:23 But whether you can get there or not and I can tell you this 09:25 from experience because I have been there, Ellis Island 09:28 is a fantastically inspiring place and it just oozes history. 09:33 So many Americans have stories to tell that have their roots 09:36 in Ellis Island. 09:40 Isaac Asimov, born in Russia to parents of Jewish decent 09:44 passed through Ellis Island at the age of three 09:47 with his parents and siblings. 09:49 He did most of his growing up in Brooklyn, New York, 09:51 right across the bay from Ellis Island. 09:54 He taught himself to read when he was five years old 09:56 and then finished high school and college early. 10:00 Asimov went on to become famous as a scientist and writer. 10:03 Like countless others, his story represents the promise 10:07 for which millions cross the Atlantic, seeking both material 10:11 and spiritual freedom. 10:15 Like the stories of countless others, his story represents 10:19 the promise that so many millions crossed the Atlantic 10:21 to find. The promise of spiritual 10:25 and material freedom. 10:28 But of course, not every immigrant story turned out 10:30 quite so well. 10:31 There were those who came here looking for freedom and looking 10:34 for a new start and looking for fortune 10:36 and they didn't find it. 10:38 Some were disappointed, some were disillusioned, 10:40 some ended up bitter. 10:42 The story is told of one man who was told before he came 10:45 here that he would discover that the streets of New York 10:47 City were paved with gold. 10:49 He scoffed when he returned home and said "I found there 10:53 was no gold, no streets and I did most of the paving." 10:57 But most who came to America stayed in America. 11:02 Hope was in the air, a glorious future beckoned. 11:06 Liberty and justice were officially this nation's 11:09 guiding principles. 11:11 New York Governor Alfred E. Smith spoke many years 11:14 ago about God's purpose for the United States 11:18 and he said God made this country to be a haven 11:20 of repose and a harbor of refuge for the poor 11:24 and the down-trodden and the oppressed of every land. 11:29 John Jakes, one of America's most famous historical novelists 11:33 wrote a book some years ago. 11:34 He wrote the story of a young German immigrant who came 11:37 to the United States in the 1890's. 11:39 At first he found here much in which he could rejoice, 11:44 but then after a while he himself started to experience 11:47 family disharmony and cruel oppression and racial bigotry. 11:51 In time, he learned to love his new land and its forward 11:56 looking spirit. 11:58 Jakes tells the story in a book entitled Homeland. 12:06 The Bible talks about a Homeland, the true haven 12:09 for the down-trodden, the oppressed, and the poor 12:12 from throughout the world. 12:14 We read about it in the last chapters of the Bible, 12:17 Revelation 21 and 22. 12:20 Here's what John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy 12:23 Spirit, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first 12:29 heaven and the first earth were passed away." 12:32 That's revelation 21:1. 12:34 He goes on to describe the Holy City, New Jerusalem, 12:37 as being prepared as a bride adorned for her husband 12:41 and then he writes, And I heard a loud voice 12:44 from heaven saying: Behold the tabernacle of God 12:47 is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall 12:51 be his people and God himself will be with them 12:55 and be their God. 12:57 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 13:01 There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying and there 13:06 shall be no more pain for the former things 13:09 have passed away. 13:11 Then he who sat on the throne said, Behold, 13:15 I make all things new." 13:19 New York City Mayor David Dinkins was fond referring 13:22 to New York City as a gorgeous mosaic of ethnic and cultural 13:27 diversity. 13:28 You come to New York City and you realize right away 13:31 it is a big place, 8.5 million inhabitants. 13:35 Landmarks and icons everywhere. 13:37 For instance, right there, is the Empire State Building. 13:41 It feels in much of New York City like a remarkably safe 13:45 place because New York City is a collection of neighborhoods 13:49 and in many of them, it's common to see women 13:51 walking alone late at night. 13:53 That's how safe they either feel or are. 13:55 But in other parts of New York City, 13:58 maybe you wouldn't try that. 14:00 Some parts of the city aren't very easy on the eye 14:03 but generally New York City is beautiful and often 14:07 incredibly so. 14:08 New York Harbor, that jewel in the middle of Manhattan 14:11 known as Central Park and this place Highline Park. 14:14 It used to be an elevated railroad servicing New York 14:17 City's industrial area. 14:19 But it is being developed in the recent years 14:21 into an Oasis. 14:22 And on perfect days like this, people come here to 14:26 enjoy its beauty and its rest. 14:29 Now of course, New York City has not always lived up to 14:33 its beauty and promise, just like any other place 14:36 on earth. 14:37 But God's city, the New Jerusalem, 14:39 will be everything he says it will be. 14:42 There will be no crying. 14:44 There won't be any pain. 14:45 There won't be any sadness and there won't be any death. 14:50 No political corruption, no financial malfeasance, 14:53 no selfish grasping after position and power. 14:57 God's city will be a model of perfect unity, of harmony, 15:02 of integrity and love. 15:04 The Apostle John speaks about the New Jerusalem 15:07 in the book of Revelation when he says this: 15:09 "And the city is laid out as a square and its length 15:16 is as great as its breadth. 15:17 And he measured the city with a reed, 12000 furlongs. 15:22 Its length, breadth and height are equal." 15:27 Now let's think about that. 15:31 You know what we are talking about here? 15:33 A city 375 miles in length, breadth and height. 15:39 Talk about high-rise living. 15:41 The people of Manhattan are going to feel right at home. 15:44 This is remarkable. 15:45 This city is going to be so tall that it stretches 15:47 into space. 15:49 It will sit on the earth like a cube and its length 15:52 and breadth and height will be exactly the same. 15:55 Remarkable! 15:57 But now let's think a little bit more because the Apostle John 16:00 had more to say about this incredible place. 16:04 "And the construction of the wall was of jasper 16:08 and the city was pure gold like clear glass 16:11 and the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with 16:15 all kinds of precious stones. 16:18 The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, 16:23 the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 16:27 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, 16:32 the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, 16:36 the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, 16:39 the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 16:45 And the 12 gates were 12 pearls. 16:48 Each individual gate was of one pearl and the street 16:53 of the city was pure gold like transparent glass." 16:58 It is hard to even imagine a city as glorious as this 17:04 but this is what God promises to all who claim his pardon 17:08 and his transforming power. 17:10 John goes on to write more to describe the city 17:13 and the amazing diversity that is to be found there. 17:17 "And the nations of those who are saved shall walk 17:20 in its light and the kings of the earth bring their glory 17:24 and honor into it and they shall bring the glory and honor 17:28 of the nations into it." 17:30 Now, not all would-be immigrants who came to the United States 17:37 were allowed to enter the country and the same 17:40 is true for the land of promise. 17:44 I'll have more in just a moment. 17:48 [Music] 18:02 Time for today's Bible question. 18:04 Here it is. 18:05 Pastor Bradshaw talked about 1 John 1:9 and that God 18:08 would forgive us of all our sins. 18:11 He did and that's true. 18:12 One verse always comes to mind Matthew 12:31 in which Jesus 18:16 said that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 18:19 How do I put all of this together? 18:22 Thanks. 18:23 Well, you're welcome. 18:24 Let's try and do that. 18:25 While the Bible says that God will forgive our sins 18:29 in 1 John 1:9, the Bible does say that blaspheming 18:32 against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven and that 18:35 is because the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not 18:38 an individual sin. 18:39 It is a condition in sin. 18:42 Keep this in mind. 18:43 Just before the statement, Jesus said all manner of sin 18:46 and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men. 18:50 That's very clear. 18:51 If you can do it, God can and he is prepared 18:54 to forgive it. 18:55 And we have record in the Bible of people being restored to God 18:57 who were murderers and they were immoral and they were 18:59 dishonest and they were angry. 19:01 God forgave them. 19:02 But this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 19:04 What about that? 19:05 It is not a particular sin. 19:07 It is a condition in sin. 19:09 One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to bring conviction 19:12 of sin. 19:13 You read that in John 16:8. 19:14 So when a person is involved in the sin against the Holy 19:19 Spirit, here is what happens. 19:20 The Holy Spirit speaks to that person and convicts that person 19:24 that what they are doing is wrong. 19:26 It could be about any certain sin in their life. 19:28 But what some people do is they fail to respond to the voice 19:31 of the Holy Spirit. 19:32 Eventually they come to the place where they don't 19:35 even hear God's spirit speaking to them. 19:38 They become numb or hardened against conviction. 19:42 When a person grieves the Holy Spirit what happens is the Holy 19:46 Spirits voice can no longer be heard. 19:48 That person has committed the sin against the Holy Spirit. 19:52 They have come to the place where they are absolutely not 19:54 going to repent. 19:56 If God calls you to repent and you choose not to do so, 19:59 then the sin you are clinging to cannot be forgiven. 20:04 If you don't confess it, what can God do? 20:06 Now there is a resource on our website I would love for you 20:09 to look at on this subject. 20:10 Go to studies.itiswritten.com, studies.itiswritten.com. 20:13 Look at the Search for Certainty studies and you'll find 20:17 there a study on the Holy Spirit and the unpardonable sin. 20:23 This will give you a little more information. 20:25 If you have a question you'd like me to answer 20:26 on this program, go to itiswritten.com 20:28 and ask your question there and I'll do my best 20:31 to answer your question on a future program. 20:35 [Music ... sound of people] 20:45 New York City is a remarkably diverse place. 20:48 But even the diversity of New York City cannot compare 20:51 to what is going to be experienced when the saved 20:54 of all ages enter into God's Holy City in the new earth. 20:59 At that time, people from all eras of this earth's history 21:03 will gather and dwell together in the presence of God 21:07 in complete and perfect harmony. 21:10 And just as would-be immigrants into these United States 21:14 were not granted unconditional entry when they came through 21:19 Ellis Island, so people will not be given unconditionally 21:22 the gift of salvation. 21:24 The Bible says this, the ancient apostle wrote 21:27 these words in Revelation 21:27, "But there shall by no means 21:32 enter it anything that defiles or causes an abomination 21:36 or a lie but only those who are written in the Lamb's 21:40 book of life." 21:41 That's Revelation 21:27. 21:45 Earlier in the same chapter you read a similar verse. 21:49 He who overcomes shall inherit all thins and I will be his God 21:54 and he shall be my son. 21:56 Revelation 21:7. 22:01 Throughout the book of Revelation, 22:03 this is the promise we find. 22:05 Those who have experienced victory over the power of sin 22:08 through the power of God's grace, those who have given 22:11 their lives to God, who have lived surrendered lives 22:14 as Jesus lives his life in them these are the ones that God 22:19 can trust in heaven. 22:20 Here is Revelation 3:5, "He who overcomes shall 22:26 be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name 22:30 from the Book of Life but I will confess his name 22:32 before my Father and before his angels." 22:35 And that can be your experience. 22:39 Writing to the Colossians, Paul stated that the mystery 22:42 of the gospel was Christ in you the hope of glory. 22:47 These days, if you travel from one country to another 22:50 you are going to have to have a passport. 22:52 Our passport into the true land of promise is Jesus Christ. 22:58 If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, 23:01 if you have surrendered to him, then you can live in confidence, 23:06 confident that one day soon you'll be living with him in 23:10 that world made new. 23:15 Four years before her death in 1883, Emma Lazarus wrote 23:21 the lines chiseled at the base of the statue of liberty 23:25 whose torch still beckons multitudes to a better life 23:28 in America. 23:30 "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning 23:35 to breathe free. 23:37 The wretched refuse of your teaming shores. 23:41 Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. 23:46 I lift my lamp beside the golden door." 23:52 But a better and a greater golden 23:54 door beckons us. 23:56 The light of God's word welcomes the faithful 23:58 with a torch that shines far more brightly than the light 24:01 in New York Harbor. 24:03 And all are invited ... 24:05 the weary, the wayward, the wretched, 24:08 the tempest-tossed. 24:10 If you'll allow God's saving, transforming grace to transform 24:15 you, then you can look forward confidently to being a forever 24:19 citizen of God's true land of promise. 24:27 It Is Written is dedicated to sharing the gospel around 24:29 the world. 24:30 To discover more about It Is Written, I invite you 24:32 to visit our website, itiswritten.com 24:34 and browse the dozens of pages that describe what we do 24:38 and how we do it. 24:39 Let's get to know each other better. 24:41 Visit our website itiswritten.com today. 24:46 If you'd like to know more about the Book of Revelation, 24:48 Prophecy and Last-Day Events, I have a special book 24:52 for you today. 24:53 It's called The Next Superpower, written by Pastor Mark Finley, 24:57 a former presenter of this very television program. 25:00 The Next Superpower is loaded with insights in the book 25:03 of Revelation. 25:04 Not only will it increase your understanding of Revelation, 25:07 but it will grow your faith in God. 25:10 It is a quality hard-cover book that takes an in-depth look 25:14 at the Book of Revelation. 25:15 Please call or write us and this free book will be 25:18 on its way to you as long as stocks last. 25:21 There is no cost or obligation. 25:23 Just call 1.800.253.3000 and ask for the book 25:28 "The Next Superpower. 25:29 You can call anytime day or night. 25:32 If the line is busy, do keep trying. 25:35 You can also request this free book by writing to 25:37 It Is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, California, 91359 25:43 and we'll mail a copy to your address in North America. 25:46 Now please notice this book is limited to the supply on hand 25:50 so call quickly so we can get it on its way to you. 25:54 I also want to encourage you to visit our website, 25:57 itiswriten.com where you'll discover additional helpful 26:00 resources on a host of life-changing topics. 26:03 It Is Written is a faith-based ministry made possibly 26:08 by viewers like you. 26:09 If you wish to help the worldwide outreach 26:12 of It is Written and help us to ensure people continue 26:15 to be blessed by solid Bible teaching, your tax-deductible 26:18 gift can be sent to the same address or you can 26:21 make a gift on-line at itiswritten.com. 26:24 Thank you for your letters and your continued support. 26:27 Our toll-free number is 1.800.253.3000 and our web 26:34 address itiswritten.com. 26:42 Let's take this opportunity to pray together. 26:44 Our Father in heaven, thank you that we can know you welcome us 26:48 into your land of promise. 26:50 Before this time, so many people came into this land 26:53 of freedom through the doorway that was Ellis Island and they 26:59 became Americans. 27:01 Now as we enter by faith into that land known 27:04 as your eternal kingdom through not Ellis Island but Jesus, 27:09 we become yours. 27:12 We thank you for that. 27:12 Keep us, please, and let your grace transform us and fit us 27:17 for eternity in your presence. 27:20 We pray in Jesus' name, amen. 27:28 [Music] 27:43 Thanks for joining me today. 27:45 I look forward to seeing you again next time. 27:47 Until then, remember: It is written, man shall 27:51 not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds 27:55 from the mouth of God. |
Revised 2015-02-06